VIJAYAWADA: The swollen River Krishna has left a trail of devastation affecting thousands of people and farmers. Low-lying areas have been inundated and crops across thousands of acres located along the course of river on both the banks in Krishna and Guntur districts have been submerged.
According to flood water discharge readings in Krishna river at various irrigation projects recorded at 6 pm on Friday, nearly 8.65 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged from Srisailam project while 7.32 lakh cusecs from Nagarjunasagar, 7.52 lakh cusecs from Pulichinthala and 7.68 lakh cusecs from Prakasam Barrage in the city. Water level at the Barrage was recorded at 16.8 feet against the FRL of 12 feet and the quantum of discharge of water from the barrage is expected to touch eight lakh cusecs in the hours ahead.
Authorities have already issued a second warning level when water discharge was recorded at 5.68 lakh cusecs. As a huge quantum of water is being released from the projects upstream, Prakasam Barrage will witness a surge in the quantum of discharge which will stabilise in the next three days.
Authorities say that unless the discharge at Prakasam Barrage records 10-11 lakh cusecs, there may not be any major trouble to the flood banks in the form of breach at vulnerable places.
Moreover, as there is no heavy and incessant rainfall locally, the flood banks will remain strong and can withstand heavy discharge of water.
Krishna Delta System chief engineer R. Satish Kumar said, “As huge quantum of flood water from projects located upstream Krishna river is being discharged, we are receiving heavy inflows forcing us to discharge huge quantum of water downstream the barrage. We expect the water discharge to touch eight lakh cusecs in the hours ahead.”
Meanwhile, authorities in both Krishna and Guntur districts are evacuating people from flood affected areas along the river course and transporting them to relief centres. However, a section of people are showing stiff resistance to be evacuated to safety stating that in their absence, their homes, their household articles and other valuables might be looted.
Elsewhere, several streams are flowing to their full capacity disrupting road connectivity at several places causing hardships to the commuters.
