VISAKHAPATNAM: Heavy rain continued across Srikakulam district throughout Saturday, completely disrupting normal life. Under the influence of the low pressure area which has turned into a well-marked low pressure area over Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coast, heavy rain is likely to be witnessed across the region over the next three days. With Vamsadhara river in full spate and water overflowing the bridges at several places, transportation between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh has been severed. Efforts are on to restore road connectivity.
Due to heavy rain in Srikakulam district as well as Odisha state, the rivers Vamsadhara, Nagavali and Mahendratanaya are in full spate. Officials have sounded the second cautionary alert over Vamsadhara river as Gotta Barrage received over 45,000 cusecs Saturday morning within three hours, setting off the panic button in the villages in and around the region. In Odisha, Torrential rain is battering the areas of Kasinagar, Gummada and Gunapur, leading to heavy inflows into Gotta Barrage where the officials have lifted all the gates and released over 80,000 cusecs downstream.
The officials said that the inflows, which were stable till last night, have increased suddenly due to the heavy rain in Odisha region. Several villages on the banks of Vamsadhara, Nagavali and Mahendratanaya rivers were inundated, while thousands of acres of farmlands on the banks of major rivers got submerged. The officials have been asked to shift people from low-lying areas to safety. Connectivity between several villages like Gopalapuram have been snapped as all rivers are flowing over the roads and bridges. Srikakulam district collector Gaurav Uppal visited the Gotta Barrage to see the gravity of the situation.
Penugotivada and surrounding villages in Kotthuru mandal have been flooded, while road connectivity between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh has been cut off at several places like Mathala, Palakonda-Haddubangi and other areas, as the rivers are receiving heavy inflows. Jilledupadu, Kommanapalli, and Akkarapalli villages of Hiramandalam mandal have been totally marooned by river water. District officials informed that control rooms are being established in all mandal headquarters. They fear that several areas in Srikakulam district will be submerged if the rain continues for another 24 hours.