Godavari floods recede

• Deputy Chief Minister Chinarajappa assures people of all help
• Island villages still under water

Rajahmundry: The Godavari water level at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowlaiswaram in Andhra in East Godvari district receded on Wednesday.

"The water in the river Godavari is receding slowly and the present water level at Dowlaiswaram Barrage was 14.40 feet against its maximum level of 24 feet this morning. The water level may further come down by evening," Superintendent of Engineer, Irrigation Circle, Dowlaiswaram S Sugnarao said Meanwhile, district Collector Neetu Prasad held a review meeting on flood situation in the district and directed the officials take all necessary steps to prevent outbreak of diseases in the flood-affected areas.

Scores of people living in low-lying areas of Rajahmundry, Jonnada Lanka in Alamuru mandal, Devipatnam, P Gannavaram mandals were shifted to safe places, Prasad said. So far 591 people were shifted to relief camps. Though the flood is receding Godavari slowly, the situation remains grim for the people in low lying and ilsand villages in Konaseema area. As many as 120 island villages are still marooned. Coconut plantations, papaya and vegetables crops in thousands of acres are still under water in the island villages. There is scarcity of drinking water in many villages in Konaseema.

Godavari canal breached in Bandaru Lanka villages and water entered into the fields. Country boats have become only mode of transport for people in dozens of villages. There is no electricity in about 60 villages in P Gannavaram, Mamidikuduru and Mummidivaram mandals for the last 36 hours. Vegetable crops in 25,000 acres are under sheet of water. Crops, including Papaya, black grams, turmeric and vegetable, have inundated in Kothapeta, Alamuru, Athreya Puram and P Gannavaram mandals.

Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa, ZP Chairperson N Rambabu and District Collector Neethu Prasad visited Inapuram in Mummidivaram mandal where a sluice suffered damage on Wednesday.