AP: Godavari, Krishna in Third Spell of Floods
State disaster management authority MD Prakhar Jain has said both Godavari and Krishna rivers were flooded. “We are keeping a close watch in the districts where both the rivers are flowing. We put the field level officers on high alert. Five SDRF teams have been deployed for emergency relief measures.”
Vijayawada: Major rivers, Godavari and Krishna, witnessed the third spell of floods this season from June due to heavy rainfall in their upper and local catchment areas.
Krishna had heavy floods forcing the water resources department to issue the first flood warning at 12.20pm, Thursday, when the water discharge was recorded at 3.97 lakh cusecs in Prakasam Barrage. The authorities were releasing 4.37 lakh cusecs of water downstream into the sea as surplus out of the inflows of 4.43 lakh cusecs, officials said.
Meanwhile, the authorities have reduced the outflows from Pulichintala to 2.74 lakh while a similar situation existed with the Srisailam project with its outflow at 2.9 lakh cusecs and from Nagarjuna Sagar project at 2.35 lakh cusecs by Thursday night. With reduced inflow into the Krishna at Prakasam Barrage, the authorities were expecting the water level to fall further.
Krishna conservator Ravi Kiran said, “We are expecting to withdraw the first flood warning by Friday morning as water inflows from upstream projects have been reduced.”
However, official agencies kept a close watch all along the river course downstream to avoid any untoward incident. People are not allowed to enter the river while fishermen have been asked to not take their fishing boats into the flooded river.
The authorities allowed immersion of Ganesh idols in Krishna at ‘Seethammavari Padhalu’ with proper barricading.
Meanwhile, the Godavari too was experiencing heavy floods. By Thursday night, nearly 5.20 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged from the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram to downstream.
Godavari head works superintending engineer Gopinath said, “The water level in Godavari is rising at Bhadrachalam with a discharge of seven lakh cusecs. We are expecting to issue the first flood warning with the water level at Cotton barrage touching 11.75ft, with a discharge of over 10 lakh cusecs by 2pm on Friday. ”
State disaster management authority MD Prakhar Jain has said both Godavari and Krishna rivers were flooded. “We are keeping a close watch in the districts where both the rivers are flowing. We put the field level officers on high alert. Five SDRF teams have been deployed for emergency relief measures.”
Intermittent rains were being reported in both Kurnool and Nandyal districts. Nandyal was witnessing heavy rainfall, while Kurnool received light to moderate showers. In the last 24 hours, Srisailam recorded 7.8cm, Nandikotkur 4.1cm, Pagidyala 3.6cm, and Midthur and Velugodu 3.4cm each. In Kurnool district, Kalluru received 3.8cm, Kurnool Rural 3.7cm, Kurnool Urban 3.6cm and Nandavaram and Mantralayam 2cm each.
Reports said intermittent showers continued in Kurnool and surrounding areas on Thursday.
