Rains batter Kothagudem

Kothagudem: Heavy rains that have been pounding the district since last two days, have left villagers and town people helpless as roads are damaged and flood water of overflowing rivulets and streams and Godavari River have entered their colonies and houses.

The district has recorded 10.6 cms in the past two days. According to official sources, Aswraopet mandal received maximum 21 cms rainfall in the district followed by Dhammapet (17.8 cms), Bhadrachalam (14.5), Dummagudem (16 cms) Burgumphad (12.1 cms), Julurupadu (11.2 cms), Manuguru (11.2 cms) and Mulkalpally13.6 cms.

Meanwhile, water level in Godavari River has also been rising slowly in Bhadrachalam. On Monday, it was marked 46 feet at the temple town. The officers marked the first warning flag here on Sunday night. Due to floods, officers are alerted in all villages and mandal headquarters.

The flood water entered into the outskirts colonies in the temple town. As many as 25 families have been shifted to the safer place from the low-lying area.

Sub Collector Bhavesh Mishra and his team of officers, that visited the visited the low-lying areas, have been monitoring the situation closely. The Sub-Collector interacting with the people for providing them better services in the rehabitation centres.

The minor irrigation project that is located in Charala, the officers lifted 25 gates and released 1,72,700 cuses water into Godavari. The other project in the district Kinnarasani and Peddavagu are filled to the brim with water.

The incessant rains have also damaged the communication system in the district as most of the roads are damaged due to heavy rains. Particularly in Aswarao Pet, Gundala, Karakagudeam, and Mulkalpally mandals roads were damaged due to the flood water.

Since roads are damaged and rivulets and streams are overflowing, villages are marooned in their localities. In Mulkalpally mandal, which received 13 cm rainfall, roads are completely damaged due to heavy rains and floods. The Progalla Pally to Rajapet road is entirely damaged. Same is the situation in Kotthagangam village where most of the crops have submerged in flood water.

With crops, coal production is also affected in the district due to heavy rains. The Singareni Collaries Company Limited incurred heavy loss of nearly 60,000 tons during the past two days because of heavy rains in Kothagudem district.