River at 51.9 ft; officials on alert, evacuation readied
Nalgonda: The water level of the Godavari river at Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district rose to 51.9 feet on Thursday, just 1.1 feet short of the third warning level.
The second warning has been in force since Wednesday evening. The third warning will be issued once the water level reaches 53 feet. The current discharge of water in the Godavari at Bhadrachalam has been recorded at 13,66,298 cusecs.
With the sluice of the new Karakatta closed, rainwater has stagnated in nearby agricultural fields. The irrigation department has taken up measures to prevent leakages in the old Karakatta at Kotta Colony and Vista Colony. Sandbags have been kept ready to plug any breaches, while boats and expert swimmers have been deployed along the river.
District collector Jitesh V. Patil instructed officials to evacuate residents from low-lying areas and shift them to rehabilitation centres if the water level rises further.
