Godavari floods throw life out of gear

Bhadrachalam: Incessant rains in the upper catchment areas of Bhadrachalam continued to push large volumes of water downstream on Friday, prompting the district administration to intensify relief and rescue measures across flood-prone areas. According to officials, the water level touched 48 ft triggering the second flood warning, while the river was carrying an estimated 1.144 million cusecs of floodwater.

Officials informed that 49 villages in the Bhadrachalam division have been affected by the floods. This includes six in Aswapuram mandal, nine in Bhadrachalam, eight in Burgampahad, five in Dummugudem, eight in Charla, five in Manuguru, and eight in Pinapaka.

Floodwaters surrounded a sand excavation ramp near Veerapuram village in Charla mandal, leaving several lorry drivers and villagers stranded. Revenue officials rushed to the spot after receiving the information and launched rescue operations to shift those trapped.

Meanwhile, with the increase in water level, flood waters inundated many villages on the banks of the river cutting off transportation to the villages.

A bridge at Turubaka village in Dummugudem mandal was also inundated. Vehicular traffic was affected on the national highway between Bhadrachalam and Vekatapuram.

Notably, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy directed the district and mandal level officials to be alert and take measures to avoid loss of life and property.

In addition, the district administration has advised residents of low-lying and riverside habitations to remain vigilant and be prepared to move to safer locations if the water level continued to rise.

Officials said the flood situation was being closely monitored as heavy inflows from the Godavari’s major tributaries, including the Indravati and Pranahita rivers, continued due to widespread rainfall across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and the Vidarbha region.

Earlier in the day, the first warning level of 43 ft was crossed in the morning following which authorities placed the district machinery on high alert.