Second flood warning remains in force in Bhadrachalam, TGSRTC bus services paralysed in Bhadrachalam Agency

Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus services were crippled in Bhadrachalam Agency as the low-lying stretches of the Bhadrachalam-Venkatapuram and Bhadrachalam-Kunavaram highways were flooded even as the Godavari river flowed slightly below the danger mark in Bhadrachalam on Thursday.

The second flood warning was issued at 10.05 p.m. on Wednesday after the river touched the 48 feet mark at Bhadrachalam.

The water level in the Godavari gradually rose on Wednesday night and reached 51.90 feet, just a few notches below the third flood warning (danger) level of 53 feet, at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The official machinery has been put on high alert and the disaster response force personnel have been deployed in the flood-prone areas of the tribal dominated Bhadradri Kothagudem district to deal with any potential flooding hazards.

Vehicular movement on the Bhadrachalam-Venkatapuram highway remained disrupted for the second consecutive day on Thursday after the temporary road meant to divert the traffic at Turubaka bridge was partially damaged due to flooding.

Sources said that vehicular movement between Telangana-Andhra Pradesh and Telangana-Chhattisgarh was interrupted due to flooding on various road stretches in Bhadrachalam division and elsewhere in Telangana’s tribal heartland.

Flood relief camps have been set up in Chinna Nallabelli village of Dummugudem mandal, Burgampadu mandal headquarters town and Bhadrachalam town as per the flood contingency plan to evacuate people from flood-prone areas to the camps.

The Godavari flood discharge at Bhadrachalam remained static at 13,66, 298 cusecs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday. The second flood warning remained in force in Bhadrachalam when reports last came in.