Godavari flood situation worsens, river crosses 70 feet mark at Bhadrachalam

Kothagudem: The flood situation in river Godavari has worsened with rapid rise in the river caused by continuous inflows from upstream projects and water level crossed the 70 feet mark at 4pm with a discharge of 23.82 lakh cusecs on Friday. At 6 pm the water level was 70.50 feet. It was the third time […]

Kothagudem: The flood situation in river Godavari has worsened with rapid rise in the river caused by continuous inflows from upstream projects and water level crossed the 70 feet mark at 4pm with a discharge of 23.82 lakh cusecs on Friday.

At 6 pm the water level was 70.50 feet. It was the third time Godavari crossed the 70 mark in the past 36 years. The river recorded a flood level of 75.6 feet on Aug 16, 1986 and 70.8 feet on Aug 24, 1990. It was expected that the water level could rise further and reach 75 feet later in the day.

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Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar, who camped at Bhadrachalam, informed Telangana Today that the Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has been monitoring the flood situation closely from Hyderabad and has called him over phone.

And the Chief Minister was apprised about the situation in flood affected mandals and measures being carried out to ensure the safety of people in those mandals. At the request of the State government, the Indian Army has dispatched a team of 101 army men including doctors and engineers to Bhadrachalam to take part in relief and rescue operations, he said.

At present Bhadrachalam town was safe and there was no truth in the rumours that there could be a threat to Godavari karakatta in case of increased flood in the river. The government machinery was fully ready to address any eventuality and sand bags were readied to strengthen the river embankment in case of any breach.

Steps were being taken to avoid loss of life and the residents in Cherla, Pinapaka and Dummugudem were moved to relief centres. Electricity supply was disconnected in low lying areas to avoid accidents. NDRF and SCCL rescue teams were positioned in key areas.

A helicopter would soon be dispatched to Bhadrachalam from Hyderabad along with safety equipment at the directions of the Chief Minister. North zone IG Y Nagi Reddy and Khammam Commissioner of Police Vishnu S Warrier arrived at Bhadrachalam to oversee the relief work, the minister noted.

District Collector Anudeep Durishetty and Superintendent of Police Dr. Vineeth G also visited low lying areas in Bhadrachalam town asking the residents to move to rehabilitation centres without any further delay. Godavari bridge remained closed to the public during the day.

Meanwhile, the flood waters entered into Bhadradri Thermal Power Station near Edulla Bayyaram in Manugur mandal and power generation was shut. Flood water entered into the intake well substation at Kummarigudem in Bhadrachalam as a result Mission Bhagiratha water supply was hit in all the mandals in the district except Julurpad, informed the Executive Engineer C Nalini.