AP officials likely to issue third flood warning as Godavari water rises

East Godavari: With the flood water increasing gradually at Dhavaleswaram Cotton Barrage, the officials are likely to issue a third warning signal by Thursday evening. At present, the barrage has recorded 15.8 lakh cusec inflow and outflow water levels.

On Thursday, the water level at Bhadrachalam crossed 60 feet, discharging 15.8 lakh cusecs from Dowleswaram Cotton Barrage, and 15.39 lakh cusecs from Polavaram Project into the sea. Teams from AP State Disaster Management Authority have asked all district officials to be alert.

According to the chief engineer, irrigation department, Satish Kumar, "Water flow at the Dhavaleswaram Cotton Barrage is 15.6 feet, with 15.8 lakh cusecs discharged after second warning signal. We are likely to give a third warning signal at 17.75 feet with 17 lakh cusecs water. By Friday evening, the water levels may reach 22 lakh cusecs."

According to the statistics, in 2021, water levels were recorded up to 22 lakh cusec. This year, officials are expected it would reach a maximum of 23 lakh.

1.5 lakh families affected

A total of seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and five State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are on the ground in Alluri Sitarama Raju, Ambedkar Konaseema, West and East Godavari districts, and Eluru districts for rescue and relief operations. About 30,000 families, including 16,000 in Konaseema, 6,000 in Eluru, 4,200 in West Godavari, and more than 1,000 in Alluri Sitarama Raju district were affected.

Officials said if the third warning signal is given, the flood situation is likely to affect 524 villages in 42 mandals of five districts. The officials have also identified 30 river bunds that are weak and might lead to breaches. Those river bunds are strengthened with sandbags.

The rescue teams are in the process of evacuating people in low-lying areas to rehabilitation centers. Approximately 1.51 lakh people have been affected by the Godavari floods. So far, 1,015 families in Konaseema, 6,000 in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, and 2,000 in Lanka villages have been shifted to relief camps. A total of 37 schools in Konaseema districts are being used as rehabilitation centers for flood-affected people. Backward Classes (BC) welfare minister Chelluboina Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna went to the flood affected areas in Ramachandrapuram in Konaseema district, on boat and distributed flood relief material.

In Konaseema, around 338 pregnant women were identified in submerged villages and 52 of them were at high risk and were shifted to nearby primary healthcare centers through boats.

A total of 79 rehabilitation centers in Konaseema and 15 relief camps in Eluru have been arranged with generators, medicines, drinking water, and food. According to Konaseema district collector Himanshu Shukla, they have deployed 403 boats, 925 swimmers, and 64 medical teams.

Under relief operations, fisheries department has shifted 106 cattle from Kotipalli revu, one of the submerged Lanka village.

Many villages cut off from mainland

With a total of 31 Lanka villages in Konaseema at most risk, the officials have deployed country boats to shift people to shelters. Several villages in the agency areas in Konaseema are cut off from the mainland and many are stuck at home. In many areas, flood water reached the ground floor and the residents had to shift to the first floor.

Reports say there are around 16 habitations in Eluru and 18 Lanka villages in West Godavari that were cut off from the mainland. District collectors of the affected districts are planning to air-drop food, water, milk, and medicines for those habitations.

Farmers go for storage

Every time the Godavari floods, residents in Godavari districts prepare to face the worst. According to the local farmers in East Godavari, after the officials warned of the third warning signal, they cleared all the cultivated crops (vegetables) from their fields.

"We are storing whatever vegetables we have so far in the fields, and those which cannot be stored are sold in the market. Officials said they wouldn't be any chance to enter the roads after evening," said a farmer.