VISAKHAPATNAM: With catchment areas in Odisha and West Bengal receiving heavy rains, rivers Nagavali and Vamsadhara have been getting floodwater in Srikakulam district.
With the situation being alarming, the district administration has been evacuating people from villages in downstream areas of both the rivers in the district.
According to reports received till 8 pm, inflow into River Vamsadhara reached 1 lakh cusecs and all the 22 gates of Gotta barrage have been lifted to release the floodwater.
The floodwater entered several villages like Singidi, Kosali, Kesari and Hiramandalam.
According to reports from neighbouring states, the inflow is expected to increase in the night. As the inflow has been constantly rising, the district administration issued a second-level warning. River Nagavali too is receiving 50,000 cusecs of water and the flow is constantly rising.
The district administration alerted officials of all the line departments to shift the people from the villages facing flood threat. Collector J. Nivas informed that the inflow has been increasing every hour.
The officials concerned have been interacting with the Odisha officials about the reservoir-levels and have been releasing the outflows to downstream.
According to IMD reports, heavy rainfall is predicted on Thursday. The officials geared up to attend the emergency situation in the villages facing flood threat.
Rehabilitation centres were opened at various villages.
Food, medicines and drinking water is being provided in these centres. In view of the severity of the floods, the state government deployed two NDRF teams in Srikakulam.
Meanwhile, four fishermen who ventured into River Nagavali for fishing got stuck in the flood water at Ponnada Village in Etcherla mandal.
Rescue teams were rushed to the spot and attempts are on to rescue the fishermen.
Officials are warning the people to be very careful while commuting on submerged roads.
