Flood alert in Andhra districts as Godavari, Krishna rivers swell

Godavari river

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has issued a flood alert after heavy rains in neighbouring states pushed up water levels in the Godavari and Krishna rivers. Officials have warned that the situation could worsen over the next few days, and precautionary measures are being taken in vulnerable areas, The Hindu reported.

Record water levels were seen at the Dhavaleswaram barrage on the Godavari river on Tuesday morning. At 7 am, nearly 8.23 lakh cusecs of water, the highest this season, were released downstream. The water level, which was 10.50 feet in the morning, came down to 9.90 feet by evening.

Upstream at Bhadrachalam, the flood level touched 36.30 feet and is expected to rise further. As a result, distributaries such as Vashishtha, Vainateya, Gautami, and Vriddha Gautami are flowing in spate, according to a report by ETV Bharat.

Meanwhile, flooding has already begun affecting some villages. The causeway near Chakalipalem in P Gannavaram mandal has been submerged, while the Kanakayalanka causeway in Yelamanchili mandal of West Godavari is under water. Residents of several Lanka villages in Konaseema and West Godavari are relying on country boats for transport. Revenue officials have started preparing relief and rehabilitation centres to house affected families if needed.

Water levels have risen sharply at the Prakasam Barrage on the Krishna river in Vijayawada. At midnight on Monday, over 2.52 lakh cusecs were released, and by Tuesday evening inflows had almost doubled to 4.85 lakh cusecs. With this, the first danger warning has been sounded. Officials said a second warning will be given if inflows cross 5.67 lakh cusecs, which is likely later this week.

The Andhra government has sanctioned Rs 16 crore to help districts prepare for floods. Sixteen districts, including Krishna, Guntur, East and West Godavari, Eluru, Konaseema, Visakhapatnam, and Srikakulam, will each get Rs 1 crore. Authorities have been instructed to ensure timely evacuation, food and drinking water supply, health camps, and sanitation facilities in flood-hit areas.

At Srisailam reservoir, heavy inflows of nearly four lakh cusecs were received from upstream projects. To manage this, 10 gates have been lifted, releasing over 3.44 lakh cusecs. Additional water is being sent to Nagarjunasagar, Pothireddypadu, and HNSS. As of Tuesday evening, the reservoir was holding 198.36 TMC at a water level of 881.90 feet.