Godavari Reaches Second Warning Level at Bhadrachalam; 49 Villages Affected by Floods

Bhadrachalam: The Godavari river swelled to the second flood warning level at Bhadrachalam on Friday as incessant rains in the upper catchment areas continued to push large volumes of water downstream, prompting the district administration to intensify relief and rescue measures across flood-prone areas.

According to officials, the water level at Bhadrachalam touched 48.00 feet at 3:48 p.m., triggering the second flood warning, while the river was carrying an estimated 1.144 million cusecs of floodwater.

Earlier in the day, the first warning level of 43 feet was crossed at 10:14 a.m., following which authorities placed the district machinery on high alert.

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.

The district administration 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.

Revenue, police, fire services, disaster management, panchayat raj, health and electricity departments have been coordinating relief operations and maintaining round-the-clock surveillance in vulnerable areas.

Officials said 49 villages in the Bhadrachalam division have been affected by the floods. The affected villages include six in Aswapuram mandal, nine in Bhadrachalam, eight in Burgampahad, five in Dummugudem, eight in Charla, five in Manuguru and eight in Pinapaka.

Meanwhile, 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 information and launched rescue operations to shift those trapped to safer locations. Authorities said precautionary measures had been initiated to prevent any untoward incidents as the river continued to rise.

The District Collector Jitesh Ankit and SP Rohit Raju issued orders to all the officers to take care of floods. Collector ordered that all the officers should not leave their places without any permission. He monitors all the situation of floods and gives directions to all the officers. The officers monitored the situation here and visited the places of flood areas.

Following huge inflows into the river from upstream projects and its tributaries. The water level is expected to rise further and may have crossed the danger level 53 feet mark said by the officials.

Officials ring alert as Godavari level rises again With the increase in the 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 has been inundated with flood waters. Vehicular traffic has been affected on a national highway between Bhadrachalam and Vekatapuram, Bairagulapadu to Sunnam Batti villages as the flood waters inundated the roads connecting the villages.

Flood waters entered into many villages in Burgampahad mandal.

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

At Bhadrachalam, the first, second and third flood warning levels are fixed at 43 feet, 48 feet and 53 feet, respectively. With the river now reaching the second warning mark, officials said the inflows from upstream were being monitored continuously and further action would be taken depending on the evolving flood situation.

Authorities have appealed to people living in vulnerable areas to strictly follow official advisories and avoid venturing into floodwaters or riverbanks until the situation improves.