Nagavali in full spate

Parvathipuram/Srikakulam: Heavy rains in southern Odisha triggered flash floods in River Nagavali on Sunday inundating human habitations and inflicting extensive damage on crops in Vizianagaram district. The district administration has swung into rescue operation evacuating people in affected villages to safer areas.

Heavy rain and resulting flash floods in Rayagada district of Odisha led to washing away of railway bridge No. 588 between Singapuram Road–Therubali railway stations in Titilagarh-Rayagada railway section at about 11 am. An alert gangman stopped an approaching goods train, which was supposed to pass on the bridge, and averted the accident.

The washing away of bridge disrupted train services with some services being delayed and some cancelled on Sunday. Nagavali flood water completely submerged the national highway at Kuneru in Komarada mandal of Vizianagaram district Nagavali putting a complete halt to the traffic. On the other side, the people of Purnapadu, Labesu and Kottu villages which are on the bank of Nagavali are in the grip of fear and are in search of safer places for them and livestock.

The irrigation officials lifted eight gates of Thotapalli reservoir releasing 50,000 cusecs of water from the dam to minimise the flooding situation. Around 100 families of Old Kallikota village have been evacuated as the flood water entered to the village.

K.Seetharam Naidu of Chollapadam village who went to graze his cattle was trapped in flood and has been crying for help. After being alerted by locals, revenue officials sought the help of National Disaster Relief Force in rescuing Seetharam Naidu.

District revenue officer R S Rajkumar told The Hans India, “We have set up a control room at RDO office of Parvathipuram and even alerted the state government. Revenue, police, other emergency services have been alerted and asked to attend the duties at any time.

A 35-member NDRF team is coming from Vizag to engage in rescue operations in the flood-affected areas to night.” Meanwhile, in Srikakulam people living along the River Nagavali have been alerted after gates of Thotapalli reservoir were lifted releasing water.

Thotapalli reservoir project officials alerted people of adjacent areas through revenue and irrigation officials to be on alert. “Water level in the river reached to 30,000 cusecs by 3 pm and it increased to 50,000 by evening,” Thotapalli reservoir project superintendent engineer (SE) Dola Tirumala Rao told The Hans India.

Executive engineer (EE) Hanumanthu Manmadha Rao said that they had opened all eight crest gates of the reservoir and released water into the river. “Water level up to 60,000 cusecs in the river will not pose any danger in the areas along the river but we have sounded alert as a precautionary measure. Flood water would reach Srikakulam by Sunday night and irrigation officials there have been alerted,” he added.