Gulab cyclone: Ponds and canals overflow, trees uprooted, power supply disrupted
Kakinada: Cyclone Gulab has caused extensive rainfall in East and West Godavari districts and trees in many places were uprooted while ponds, canals, streams and rivulets were overflowing with rainwater.
Waters from swollen ponds and canals were flowing onto the roads and many transformers were damaged as falling trees fell on them. Weatherman reported 76mm rainfall on an average with 2776mm registered in East Godavari district.
The Tammileru, Jalleru and Yerra Kalva were overflowing in West Godavari districts and traffic was interrupted in many places due to the overflowing of the canals and water sources and uprooting of trees on the roads.
River Thandava was also overflowing and officials have discharged 10,000 cusecs of water. Power supply was disrupted from Sunday midnight to Monday afternoon due to heavy rains and fall of trees on power lines and transformers.
Paddy crop on over 41,000 acres including 11,000 in East Godavari and 30,000 acres in West Godavari was submerged. In East Godavari, paddy plants were lost in 137 hectares. Agriculture joint director Vijaya Kumar suggested that farmers drain out water from the fields.
West Godavari district agriculture director Jagga Rao said there was no report of paddy crop being affected in the district and said the waters in the fields may recede in a day or two.
There was damage to a bridge near Veerannapalem across the Jalleru rivulet and traffic was interrupted. Polavarm circle inspector Narasimha Murthy and his team got the bridge repaired with the help of technicians and cleared the way for traffic. A big tree got uprooted in Gantavarigudem in Nallajerala mandal in West Godavari.
Yerra Kalva is overflowing with 30,445 cusecs of water, of which 10,292 cusecs were discharged. The Yerra Kalva gates were lifted to discharge surplus waters in Kongavarigduem village in Jangareddygudem. Tammilleru rivulet is overflowing with 349.7ft of water out of its 355ft capacity.
There was a breach between Dwaraka Tirumala and Bhimadolu highway near Pangidigudem and traffic was at a standstill. Colonies in T Narasapuram have been marooned as a pond developed a breach. Rain water entered Kamavarapukota cooperative society office. A culvert built at a cost of Rs 60 lakh was washed away near Veerannapalem in Buttayigudem.
In East Godavari, a tree was uprooted at Piduguralla Palli village in the merged mandals and traffic was disrupted. Police teams rushed to the spot and cleared the way for traffic. The Yeleru canal between Pithapuram and Samalkot overflowed over the culverts. A police picket was set up to control traffic and alert the people.
Meanwhile, East Godavari district collector Harikiran said there was no report of extensive damage in the district and all steps were in place to face the cyclone. Coconut trees and other trees have fallen on 14 electric sub-stations. They were cleared immediately.
Low-lying areas in Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram and Konaseema areas were inundated due to heavy rains. The people had a bitter experience last night due to lack of power supply.
West Godavari collector Karithikeya Misra advised officials to be alert along the coastal mandals in the district due to the overflowing of canals and reservoirs.
