Lanka villages bear the brunt of Godavari flood fury

Rajamahendravaram: The people residing in lanka areas downstream of Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage are in the grip of fear though the flood water level is receding as 7.27 lakh cusecs of water is being discharging from the barrage by Thursday evening. Meanwhile, widespread rains that have been lashing the district are also posing problem to them.

Lanka villages in the mandals of Mummidivaram, I Polavaram, P Gannavaram, Razole, etc., are still reeling under floods. At Sanapallilanka railway line, pillars of under-construction bridge on River Gowthami were submerged in the flood water and the construction works came to a standstill.

The officials stopped ferrying people at various ferry points of Vasishta, Gowthami and Vynateya rivers and Amalapuram revenue divisional officer Ramana is monitoring the situation in Konaseema area. The paddy fields in Konaseema have been submerged in the flood water..

In Rajamahendraavaram, the bathing ghats were closed as a precautionary measure. Sewage water overflowed on to the roads in the city following two hours of continuous rain on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the in the Agency area, relief operations are under progress with the government providing food to the tribals put up in the relief camp at Devipatnam. All necessary facilities have been provided to them in the place. Around 30 tribal habitations are still in flood water.

Roads were badly damaged and in many areas, sections of roads were washed away in the agency area in the flood. Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Rampachodavaram project officer Nishant Kumar is supervising the relief operations at Devipatnam mandal.

According to the officials of Central Water Commission and water resources department, the water level at Polavaram is 11.55 metre and it slowly coming down along with level at Bhadrachalam.

Meanwhile, at Kaleswaram, the water level is increasing to some extent and it will also come down shortly and situation is not alarming. All the 175 gates of the barrage were lifted to discharge flood water and the water level will come down completely by Friday.