Floods Disrupt Telangana-Maharashtra Road Link; Pranahita Inundates Crops
Floodwater was being released downstream from the Sripada Yellampalli Project after five of its 62 gates were lifted following heavy inflows from the catchment area.
ADILABAD: Road connectivity between Telangana and Maharashtra was disrupted on Friday after floodwaters from the Penganga River overflowed the Anandpur bridge in Jainad mandal. The bridge connects Jainad in Telangana with Digras in Maharashtra.
However, traffic on National Highway 44 remained unaffected, although the Penganga continued to flow above danger levels due to heavy inflows from upstream. All irrigation projects in the erstwhile Adilabad district received substantial inflows. Educational institutions in Adilabad district remained closed after officials declared a holiday on Friday in view of the flood situation.
Meanwhile, the Pranahita River was in high flood, and its backwaters inundated standing crops spread over hundreds of acres in Talai, Papanpet, Somini and Mogavelli villages located along its banks.
Floodwater was being released downstream from the Sripada Yellampalli Project after five of its 62 gates were lifted following heavy inflows from the catchment area. By 7 p.m., the project had received an inflow of 50,570 cusecs, while the outflow stood at 42,848 cusecs.
The Kadam Project received an inflow of 10,128 cusecs, while the outflow was limited to 88 cusecs. Irrigation officials are storing water in the reservoir by keeping the remaining gates closed.
In Nirmal, State Government Advisor P. Sudarshan Reddy reviewed the flood situation in Nirmal and Adilabad districts and directed officials to immediately repair any roads and bridges damaged by the floods and restore connectivity. Collectors Rajarshi Shah and Bhavesh Mishra participated in the review meeting.
Sudarshan Reddy instructed irrigation officials to regulate water storage in irrigation projects based on inflows. He also stressed the need to promote crop diversification and rainwater harvesting in view of the possible impact of the El Niño effect.
Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan, accompanied by Adilabad DSP Jeevan Reddy, Jainad Circle Inspector G. Shravan and Sub-Inspector P. Goutham, inspected vehicles stranded on NH-353B near Tarnam village in Jainad mandal. He directed gram panchayat staff to remain deployed at bridges and culverts where floodwaters were overflowing to prevent any untoward incidents.
Minister for Irrigation Uttam Kumar Reddy is scheduled to inspect the Kadam Project and interact with irrigation officials in Nirmal on August 1.