Godavari Floods rise in Andhra Pradesh, warning issued

State Disaster Management Authority managing director B R Ambedkar, issued the first warning to people

The first warning has been issued to people living in close habitants to the Godavari River as the flood level increased to 12.10 lakh cusecs on Tuesday morning. The flood situation at Dowaleswaram Barrage near Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh is turning a potentially fatal turn. 

State Disaster Management Authority’s Managing director BR Ambedkar issued the warning and urged people to be cautious of the Godavari’s course and take all the precautionary measures in a surge of a potential flood.

NDRF and SDRF teams have already been deployed in the state’s vulnerable to flood areas to undertake rescue and relief operations as required. Managing Director BR Ambedkar said a state control room has been established with the number 1070 for people to contact in emergency situations. 

The floodwater inflow exceeded from 14.3 Lakh cusecs at the Sir Arthur Cotton barrage by evening. The flood has impacted the lives of 51 habitations including 30 Islands of the Godavari. 

Collector Himanshu Shukla said, “There is no human loss in the flood on Tuesday. More than 400 boats have been deployed for the evacuation and relief operations across the Konaseema district besides 925 swimmers,” He also reported that as many as 52 pregnant women in the risk group have been shifted from the islands. 

During the relief operations carried out in 12 habitations affected in the Chintoor agency in Alluri Sitaramaraju district, 2500 people have been so far evacuated among the 7993 affected people. 

Project officer (ITDA-Chintoor) K. Rama Sheshu said “Many habitations have been cut-off from the mainland in the agency. However, a majority of the people from the villages witnessing the floodwater have been rehabilitated recently,”