Godavari crosses first warning level in Bhadradri, babus on toes

Bhadrachalam: The water level at Bhadrachalam in Kothagudem district has crossed first warning level of 43 feet at 4 pm on Thursday and at 5 pm it was measured at 43.7 feet.

District Collector Rajath Kumar Saini has issued first warning and directed the officials to be on alert as it was forecast that the level might rise further.

He informed the public not to venture into the river and also prevent their cattle from going towards the river. The Collector directed the Tahsildars, MPDOs and sectorial officers of Cherla, Dummugudem, Bhadrachalam, Burgampahad, Aswapuram, Manuguru and Pinapaka not to leave their place of work and take up relief measures if necessary.

The health and medical department officials were asked to take measures to prevent spread of diseases. The police were also directed to be cautious and assist revenue personnel in carrying out the relief works.

Vehicular traffic on Bhadrachalam-Chintoor highway connecting Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Kunta-Chetty highway connecting Chhattisgarh and AP was affected as the Godavari flood waters inundated the roads.

On the other hand, heavy winds and a brief spell of rain at Kothagudem district headquarters and at Paloncha has uprooted trees at many places. Two wheelers parked at Kothagudem bus stand were damaged as a tree fell on them.

Kothagudem district received 35 mm average rainfall while all the mandals in the district received moderate to heavy rainfall. In Khammam, the average rainfall was 11.4 mm as the mandals in the district received light to moderate rain.