Rivulets in spate in West Godavari

Eluru: The flood fury in agency mandals of West Godavari district is continuing for the third consecutive day on Thursday. The rivulets in agency mandals are in spate, posing a threat to the people. On the consecutive third day, about 80 villages in Kukunuru and Velairpadu mandals cut off from the outer world.

River Godavari water level is gradually rising with the rains in upstream areas of Khammam district. The floodwater from Pedavagu project in Velairpadu mandal is flowing into the Godavari. The Yerrakalva, Kovvada and Jalleru rivulets are also flooding with rainwater.

Incessant rains have lashed the district for the consecutive third day, disrupting the normal life in agency mandal villages. In the upland area, the rain gave respite to the farmers to start the agriculture activity and planting the paddy nurseries. However, about 10,000 acres in the district was inundated either in floodwater or in the rainwater in Godavari western delta.

Kukunuru and Velairpadu mandals, which were merged in Andhra Pradesh, are the worst affected areas in the district. Kammaragdem, Ontibanda, Alluri Nagar, Gullavai and Utagumpu villages in Velairpadu mandal are marooned in the Pedavagu rivulet floods.

According to preliminary reports, 31 houses were fully damaged in Kammaragdem, Alluri Nagar, Yerraboru and Chigurumamidi villages and 200 houses partially damaged. Medepalli, Ramavaram, Gullavai, Rudramakota, Vasanthawada, Kannayigunta and Bhoodevipeta villages are cut off from the outer world in this mandal. The Road between Velairpadu and Bhadrachalam was badly damaged and vehicular traffic was suspended. Traffic on Kukunuru -Aswaraopeta road was stranded for several hours due to the bad condition of the road.

Due to the heavy floods to Pedavagu and Gunderu vagu, the R and B roads and culverts were fully damaged in these two mandals and the villages connecting to these roads were cut off from other places.
Meanwhile, in Polavaram mandal, the Godavari level was gradually rising. The water level reached to 14 meters at Polavaram. However, the irrigation officials did not pump the water to Polavaram Right Main Canal (PRMC) from Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (PLIS).

The rivulets of Isuka Kalva, Kovvada, Kademma Kalva in Polavaram mandal are filled up with flood water. Yerrakalva and Jalleru rivulets flooded with rainwater.

The water levels in Yerrakalva, Jalleru and Kovvada reservoirs are now rising, according to irrigation officials. Irrigation Executive Engineer Satish said that at present there was no danger from the reservoirs and floodwater was gradually reaching to the reservoirs. With the rainwater, the irrigation tanks have sufficient water, he added.

According to K Satyanarayana, Chief Planning Officer, so far 40.3 mm average rainfall was recorded during the last three days, as against the minimum rainfall of 3.8 mm in June, which is 10 times higher than the minimum.

He said highest rainfall was recorded in Kukunuru with 124 mm during last 24 hours and 123.6 mm in Velairpadu, 91.6 mm in Jeelugumilli, 77.4 mm in Chintalapudi, 76.6 mm in Koyyalagudem, 76.2 in Jangareddigudem and above 60 mm rainfall was recorded in T Narsapuram, Devarapalli, Lingapalem, Kamavarapukota and Dwaraka Tirumala mandals during last 24 hours.