600 Families Shifted As Godavari Swells Near First Flood Warning Mark in ASR District
ASR District Collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar clarified that people were not moved to relief camps but relocated to higher ground near their homes. He said there is no immediate flood threat as the water level is currently receding.
Visakhapatnam: The Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district administration shifted 600 families from six villages in VR Puram mandal as a precautionary measure after the Godavari River touched 41 feet at Bhadrachalam. The first flood warning is issued at 43 feet.
ASR District Collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar clarified that people were not moved to relief camps but relocated to higher ground near their homes. He said there is no immediate flood threat as the water level is currently receding.
Despite this, anxiety gripped the residents of VR Puram after witnessing the rapid rise in the river level. Revenue officials reassured locals that flood response machinery was fully prepared and urged them not to panic.
Officials said that ration depots have been stocked with rice sufficient for three months. Basic bleaching and sanitation measures have already been implemented at the flood rehabilitation centres. Villagers from low-lying areas such as Vaddigudem Colony, Dharmatallagudem, Sriramagiri, Seethampet, Jeediguppa, Isunuru, and Pochavaram have built temporary huts in anticipation of a possible evacuation.
Meanwhile, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams conducted mock drills in Kunavaram on Saturday and will continue training exercises until July 24.
