Godavari rising, flood alert sounded

By Our Staff Reporter

KHAMMAM, AUG. 21. A flood alert has been sounded in the low-lying pockets along the course of the Godavari in Khammam district as it is feared to cross the danger level of 53 feet at Bhadrachalam by tonight. The river crossed the first warning level of 43 feet by 11.00 a.m. It is rising steadily at Perur, one of the base stations of the CWC.

The flood level may rise further in case of continued rainfall in the catchment areas. Pranahita, one of the main tributaries, is steady as there is some let-up in the rain. Indravati is still on the rise. It touched 15.70 metres at Parthagudem in Orissa by 2.00 p.m. Sabari, which has been in spate for the past three days, touched 8.98 metres by 2.00 p.m at Kunta in Chhatisgarh.

The sectoral officers in-charge of the flood-prone revenue mandals in the district were put on alert and the district Collector, Mr. A. Giridhar, and senior officers reached the temple town.

Our Eluru Staff Reporter writes:

The alarming threat of floods in view of the rising Godavari water level looms large over West Godavari district.

The Godavari has been in spate for the last couple of days due to heavy rain in the catchment areas of Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, giving anxious moments to the people living in the vulnerable areas along the river.

With water level rising at Badrachalam, it was expected to cross 11.75 feet at Dhavaleswaram Barrage by midnight tonight inviting first flood warning. It is expected to touch the 13.75 mark by 6.00 a.m. on Wednesday. Second and third warnings are expected on Wednesday morning and afternoon respectively.

The District Collector, Ms. Poonam Malakondaiah, said the district administration was fully geared up to face any eventuality.

According to a report from Hyderabad, the Government has put six districts - Khammam, East Godavari, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Warangal - on flood alert.

A helicopter was rushed to Bhadrachalam this evening on the requisition of the Khammam District Collector and the army was alerted for rescue and relief activity if the situation so warranted. According to a message received by the Commissioner for Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr. D. C. Rosaiah, from the Collector, 136 villages in 16 mandals with a population of 25,000 were under immediate flood threat and some of them were cut off due to inundation of roads. Some three lakh people would be affected.

The Army authorities in Secunderabad have been asked to provide as many as helicopters as might be required.

The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting.

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