Rajahmundry: Water level at Godavari was steady at 16.1 feet at Sir Arthur Cotton barrage at Dowleswaram from 3 pm with over 16.40 lakh cusecs of water being discharge into the sea. People in low-lying areas were relieved. Irrigation authorities said that as the water level was constant for many hours, it may start receding by night. Central Water Commission authorities said that the water level in Godavari was falling and at 6 pm, the level was recorded at 50.8 feet and it is expected to recede further. Following heavy rains over the last few days in the catchment areas of Godavari in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, water from Pranahitha and Indravathi rivers and other small streams flowed into the river leading to floods. Irrigation authorities lifted all 175 gates at full capacity to release water from Sir Arthur Cotton barrage at Dowleswaram.
In Rampachodavaram agency, road connectivity between Veeravaram and Devipatnam villages remained cut off as flood water blocked the road. Two boats were pressed into service to help people cross the inundated road. As river Sabari was flowing in spate, water entered a few houses in the villages of Coonavaram, Chintur and V.R. Puram mandals. The affected people were evacuated to relief centres set up at nearby schools and they were provided with food and water. Commercial crops like cotton and chillies were affected due to water logging in the fields at Nellipaka and other areas in the Agency. In Rajahmundry division, nearly 189 people took shelter in three relief camps run at Alamur and Rajahmundry urban mandals. Islanders from Bridge Lanka will be evacuated if the situation warrants, officials said.
In Amalapuram division, as many as 56 villages located in Ainavilli, Kothapeta, Mummidivaram, Mamidikudur, Ravulapalem, P. Gannavaram, Sakhinetipalli and P. Gannavaram mandals were marooned with the flood water. The authorities have pressed 37 boats into service for the benefit of the villages and islanders to move from place to place to meet domestic chores and not for any emergency situation. Though two relief centres opened in the morning but they were shut by evening as there is no need to run them. However, the officials are supplying 20 litre drinking water cans each to a family, to the villagers at Mamidilanka as they are facing shortage of potable water. Flood water entered into 730 hectares of paddy fields and 305 hectares of vegetables in Konaseema region. East Godavari Collector Neetu Kumari Prasad visited J. Pedapudi, Vudimudi and L. Gannavaram villages of P. Gannavaram mandal of Amalapuram division. She also visited Kedaralanka where the flood bank of the river was weak and instructed the officials to strengthen it immediately. Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinarajappa visited Bodasakurru village of
Allavaram mandal where fishermen colonies were inundated and assured all help. In East Godavari, over 800 person were evacuated to six relief centres being run at several places and they are being provided with food and water. In West Godavari, Kademma bridge and Kothur causeway were inundated with flood water resulting in 26 villages being inhabited by about 36,000 people remained cut off from the mainland.
Three launches are pressed into service for the villages to move. In Narasapuram division, several habitations located at Ayodhyalanka of Achanta mandal and Doddipatla Lanka, Pallepalem and Kanakaya Lanka of Yelamanchali mandal were surrounded by the flood water. On the other hand, paddy, several commercial and horticulture crops and vegetables were inundated in flood waters and if the water starts receding fast, they will survive in both the districts.
