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Hexaphobia haunts Bhadrachalam Agency
Since the onset of Southwest monsoon this year, whispers and murmurs of hexaphobia started to haunt the people of Bhadrachalam Agency. It may be a strange coincidence or superstition,
Bhadrachalam (Khammam): Since the onset of Southwest monsoon this year, whispers and murmurs of hexaphobia started to haunt the people of Bhadrachalam Agency. It may be a strange coincidence or superstition,
but the sequence of Godavari floods returning to Bhadrachalam Agency in every year that ended with six - 1966, 1976, 1986 and 2006 - in the last five decades indicates that there is a fear of a deluge revisiting the Agency this year (2016) as well. But for in 1996, all these years have witnessed catastrophic floods sending chills down people’s spine.
In all, there are 14 mandals (eight in Telangana and six in Andhra Pradesh) in the Agency region abutting Godavari river that face the fury of floods.
The water level in Godavari at Bhadrachalam: 65.9 ft in 1966; 63.9 ft in 1976; 75.6 ft in 1986; 29.7 ft in 1996; 66.9 ft in 2006.
| Year | Water Level at Bhadrachalam (in feet) |
| 1966 | 65.9 |
| 1976 | 63.9 |
| 1986 | 75.6 |
| 1996 | 29.7 |
| 2006 | 66/9 |
Of all, the August 16, 1986 flood is devastating and left a trail of destruction resulting in extensive loss of property and cattle. Then the water level rose to a record 75.6 feet at Bhadrachalam. The deluge inundated or marooned more than 300 tribal villages, including the temple town for about five days.
More than 50,000 people were shifted to relief camps. The then Chief Minister NT Rama Rao made an aerial survey. Thereafter, to protect the temple town from inundation, the government constructed a karakatta (flood bank) from Etapaka to Gundala in 2000 with an outlay of Rs 14 crore.
The 2006 floods which wreaked havoc in the Agency made the AICC president Sonia Gandhi, the then Union Home Minister Sivaraj Patil and the then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy to visit the flood-affected areas.
Whether the superstitions may come off or not, the Agency villages are always sitting on powder keg owing to their vulnerability to above moderate floods. Although the Khammam district has reviewed the flood contingency arrangements a few days ago, the government’s preparedness in handling major floods is much to be desired. It may be mentioned here that Godavari flows nearly 250 kilometers in Khammam district.
More importantly, the situation of mandals which were merged with the AP is precariously poised. In case of floods, the AP government had to depend on their Telangana counterpart for rescue operations in these merged mandals due to the proximity and easy access. There is no sign of any coordination meeting of the officials of both the States, it’s learnt.
By: Adepu Mahender
