Andhra villages marooned as Godavari nears danger mark

Amaravati, July 14:  Several villages along Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh were marooned as the river continued to be in spate.

As the heavy inflows continued from upstream, the water level was rising. The third flood level warning is likely to be issued in Thursday night at Dowleswaram barrage.

Heavy inflows from upstream reservoirs in Telangana are leading to rise in Godavari level at Dowleswaram and Polavaram.

According to the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, the inflow and outflow at Dowleswaram barrage was 16.27 lakh cusecs.

If the river crosses the third flood level, it may impact 524 villages in 42 mandals of six districts.

About 40 villages along the banks of East Godavari, Konaseema and Kakinada districts were marooned and cut-off.

Indian Navy helicopters were conducting rescue and relief operations in marooned Villages in Eluru. The Indian Navy launched two medium-lift UH3H helicopters from INS Dega for rescue and relief operations.

The helicopters were sent to Koyada and Katukuru village in Velerupadu mandal of Eluru district.

People from some villages have moved to safe places by boats. Villagers in flood-affected villages were facing severe hardships due to shortage of food and drinking water.

Seven teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and five teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed for disaster relief operations in affected areas.

About 12,000 people have been shifted to relief camps in affected districts.

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will make an aerial survey of flood-hit areas of the Godavari region on Friday.

He has instructed the authorities to be vigilant of heavy floods and to take up necessary measures to keep people safe by arranging relief camps with required facilities. He directed the officials to keep an eye on the situation at Polavaram and Dowleswaram from time to time and alert the people of low-lying areas.

The officials informed him that the flood water is likely to increase in the next 24 to 48 hours, which can go up to 23-24 lakh cusecs, as the water from all the reservoirs in the Godavari basin including Sri Ram Sagar in Telangana is being released.