Flood level at Prakasam Barrage likely to rise in next 48 hours; NDRF, SDRF teams positioned in vulnerable areas

Heavy rainfall is expected to occur in the upstream areas of the Prakasam Barrage and other projects in the next 48 hours, and the flood level in the barrage is expected to rise again, said the AP State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA).

According to the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) authorities, inflows in the Krishna river at the Prakasam Barrage are expected to reach about 5 lakh cusecs by August 17 and 18.

Inflows at the Tungabhadra dam and the Srisailam project were rising, and at the Sunkesula and the Pulichintala it was steady. Flood level at the Nagarjuna Sagar and the Prakasam Barrage was decreasing, said the IMD officials.

With the Irrigation Department officials releasing 5.65 lakh cusecs on August 14 (Thursday), officials sounded alert for the upstream and downstream areas of NTR and Krishna districts.

“About 42 mandals, including 23 mandals in Krishna and NTR districts, are likely to be affected, if the flood level rises in the next two days,” the APSDMA authorities said.

The Police and the Revenue Department officials sounded alert in Avanigadda, Ghantasala, Challapalli, Koduru, Machilipatnam, Mopidevi, Nagayalanka, Thotlavalluru, Pamidimukkala and other mandals in Krishna district.

Speaking to The Hindu on Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) K.M. Maheswara Raju said that people were asked not to enter flood water for fishing or cross the river on boats.

“Police and the Revenue officials have discussed the flood situation. Patrolling has been intensified along the river bank at Jaggaiahpet, Vatsavai, Penuganchiprolu, G. Konduru, Ibrahimpatnam, Kanchikacherla, Chandarlapadu, Reddigudem and other mandals,” Mr. Maheswara Raju said.

Instructions have been given to the police to evacuate people living in low-lying habitations, if necessary, said Krishna district Superintendent of Police R. Gangadhar Rao.

“The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) 10^th Battalion teams have been positioned in Thotlavalluru, Avanigadda, Ibrahimpatnam, Repalle and Amalapuram as a precautionary measure,’‘ the officials said.

Besides, three NDRF teams have been kept ready at Kondapavuluru village, the headquarters of the 10^th Battalion, in Krishna district.

Officials of the Irrigation, Revenue, Police, SDRF and the NDRF would be monitoring the situation on the river bank and low-lying villages constantly in wake of the heavy rainfall forecast and flood prediction.