Flood threat in AP, Telangana as Godavari overflows

Flood threat looms over parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as heavy rains continued to lash the two Telugu states for a third consecutive day on Monday. Dozens of villages in both the states were cut off in Khammam district of Telangana and East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh as Godavari river and its tributaries remained in spate.

The water level in Godavari at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district rose to 37 feet at 9 a.m. on Monday, inundating many villages along the banks. With heavy rains lashing the upstream Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh states and met department forecasting continued downpour, officials expect more inflows by the evening.

Many rivulets, reservoirs, streams and tanks in the district were overflowing as rains continued for a six consecutive day. Heavy downpour in upstream Chhattisgarh led to flood situation at Taliperu reservoir across Taliperu river, a tributary of Godavari river in Khammam district. Officials opened 22 gates of the project to let one lakh cusecs of water downstream. Flash floods in Cheekupalli stream in the same district also inundated low-level causeway, cutting off road connectivity to surrounding villages.

Due to heavy inflows from upstream Khammam, Godavari river is in spate in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. As the water level at Dowleswaram barrage near Rajahmundry touched 7.7 feet, officials opened 175 gates to let 5.8 lakh cusecs of water into Bay of Bengal.

The downstream villages face flood threat. East Godavari district collector Arun Kumar appealed people to remain alert and cooperate with authorities. Swollen Godavari inundated villages in Konaseema region of East Godavari. The situation has worried the farmers, who fear crop damage.

Krishna river is also receiving heavy inflows due to incessant rains in parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With the water level rising at Prakasam barrage in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, authorities opened 30 gates to release 21,000 cusecs of water. Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds wrecked havoc in parts of Krishna district since Sunday night. Electricity poles were uprooted disrupting power supply in some areas.

Heavy rains continued in Paderu tribal area in Visakhapatnam district, cutting the road link to several villages. Streams and tanks were overflowing in the area. The electricity supply to at least 15 villages was also snapped as strong winds damaged the transformer. According to the met department, the two states are receiving rains under the impact of a vigorous south west monsoon and also the depression which crossed south Odisha coast on Sunday.

Hyderabad Meteorological Centre has forecast rains in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over next two to three days. It also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in north coastal Andhra and Telangana. According to Cyclone Warning Centre, Visakhapatnam, strong surface winds with speed reaching 45 to 55 km per hour are likely along and off south and north coastal Andhra.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. Local cautionary signal number three has been hoisted at Kalingapatnam, Bheemunipatnam, Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, Kakinada and Machilipatnam ports, said the Cyclone Warning Centre.