Godavari in spate, flood alert issued

Rajamahendravaram: Though the water level in Godavari was stable on Sunday, it has been increasing again from Monday morning, Officials of Water Resources Department (WRD) issued second warning at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage. At 7 pm, the water level at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage is 15 feet and 15 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged into the sea from the barrage.

Third warning will be issued when the water level reaches 17.75 ft. It is expected that the level would reach to that level by Tuesday morning as the river continues to receive heavy inflows.

All the 176 gates, in Ryali, Dowleswaram, Madduru and Vijjeswaram, were lifted to a height of 2 metres to release flood water. The flood water level at Havelock bridge Rajamahendravaram 57 feet. The water levels at Kaleswaram is 8.07 feet, Peruru 12.40 feet, Dummugudem 12.10 feet, Bhadrachalam 45.80 feet, Kunavaram 18.68 feet, Kunta 13.17 feet, Koyida 22.08 feet and at Polavaram 14 mts.

Flood water enter into as many as 44 villages in 19 mandals in the divisions of Etapaka, Rampachodavaram, Rajamahendraavaram and Amalapuram. Many lanka villages in Konaseema area were cut off from other parts. Movement of country boats has been banned in the river as a precautionary measure and the officials were asked to implement the orders.