Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Godavari recedes, another flood not ruled out

Staff Reporter

Failure to plug breaches inundates Katrenikona, Sakhinetipalli mandals in Konaseema Failure to plug breaches inundates Katrenikona and Sakhinetipalli mandals in Konaseema

FLOOD FURY: An aerial view of marooned village of Katrenikona mandal, where people are suffering without food and water. — Photo: S. Rambabu

Rajahmundry: After five days of playing havoc, Godavari began to recede on Thursday. However, local officials of the Central Water Commission and Irrigation Department said that there was every possibility of another flood within a week. "Heavy rain and floods in Nasik (origin of Godavari) may lead to rise in water levels in downstream areas like Sriramsagar, Kaleswaram, Bhadrachalam and Dhawaleswaram. It may take seven or eight days. So, we can forecast the flood situation only after four days," said R.N. Ramesh, CWC Divisional Engineer.

However, at Bhadrachalam, the officials withdrew the danger warning, sounded earlier in the day, at 6 p.m. as water level reached to 52.2 feet. At Dowleswaram the water level came down to 16.70 from 21.20 on Wednesday. On the other hand, two new mandals -- Katrenikona and Sakhinetipalli --were inundated in Konaseema as the Irrigation officials failed to fill the breaches to Sanipalli Lanka and Mondepu Lanka flood banks. The total number of marooned villages increased to 215.

In Devipatnam mandal, some 5000 tribals have been living without food for the past five days on a hilltop as official machinery has failed to reach them.

The poor tribals, who are carrying infants, children and old people along with them to hilltops in 10 villages. "It is better to get wash away in the flood than living without food, shelter and even drinking water," sayas Sattiraju, who managed to reach Devipatnam mandal headquarters along with his wife and children who are suffering from high fever and rash. Sixteen tribal villages out of 36 are still inaccessible and all of them are flooded. According to ITDA Project Officer Murali, about 12,000 people are affected in these villages.

Kurnool staff reporter adds: Heavy inflows are expected at Srisailam project on Friday.

In addition to the inflows in the Krishna, its tributaries Tungabhadra and Bhima are also overflowing.

Heavy inflows

Srisailam reservoir received an inflow of 4,50,362 cusecs while the outflow was around 5.55 lakh cusecs. The Tungabhadra is discharging 44,497 cusecs at Sunkesula barrage. Bhima, which joins the Krishna above Jurala project, is also bringing in inflows.

The confluence of the Tungabhadra and the Krishna at Sangham near Kurnool will have some choking effect.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Godavari recedes, another flood not ruled out
TDP chief wants ex gratia doubled
Relief yet to reach Adilabad mandals
Lending a helping hand to craftsmen
YSR assures ordinance staff of more orders
`Money no constraint in providing succour'
Four mandals still left in the dark
Floods: official reviews relief operations
Ensure remunerative prices for crops, officials told
CPI seeks steps to check outbreak of chikungunya
Rajiv Gruha Kalpa houses to be ready by October
Three-day `Aradhana Mahotsavam' begins
Telugu Desam's plea to Centre

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu