A.P. officials on alert as first flood warning level issued for Godavari at Bhadrachalam in Telangana

The Irrigation Department officials issued the first warning for the Godavari River at Bhadrachalam in Telangana as the water level touched 44.70 feet by 11 p.m. on Friday. Due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas, the water level is rising and it may increase further, the Central Water Commission (CWC) officials said.

“The Revenue, Police, Medical and Health, ITDA, AP-Transco, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Panchayat Raj and other departments have been put on high alert,” said an officer deployed on flood duty.

Eluru District Collector K. Vetri Selvi said that rice, pulses and other essentials have been distributed for three months in the Agency habitations.

Speaking to The Hindu on Friday, Jangareddygudem Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) M.V. Ramana said the flood level is likely to reach the second warning level (48 feet) at Bhadrachalam on Saturday. “The officers posted on flood duty have been instructed to take all measures and evacuate people from the low-lying areas, if possible,” Ms. Ramana said. At 11 p.m., the water level in the Godavari stood at 44.70 feet and officials released 10,04,800 cusecs of water downstream, the Irrigation officials said. The first warning is currently in force at Bhadrachalam. Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) Managing Director Prakhar Jain said at Prakasam Barrage on the Krishna River, the inflows and outflows were maintained at 3,38,572 cusecs.

The inflows into the Tungabhadra Dam were 44,888 cusecs and the officials were discharging the same quantity of water. At Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, the inflows were at 2,47,885 cusecs and the officials released the same quantity of water. At Pulichintala Dam, the inflows were 2,60,000 cusecs while the outflows were put at 2,10,908 cusecs.

The APSDMA officials said moderate to heavy rainfall was likely to occur in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR), Parvatipuram-Manyam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts in the next 24 hours. People are requested not to cross rivers and canals which are in spate, Mr. Prakhar Jain said.