RAJAHMUNDRY: With heavy inflows from upper reaches, irrigation officials have issued a second flood warning at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowle-swaram, at 5 pm on Monday. The water level reached 13.75 feet at the barrage and 13 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged into the sea after all the 175 gates of the barrage were lifted to the maximum level at Dowleswaram, Bobbarlanka, Maddur and Vijjeswaram.
While the first warning was sounded at the barrage at 8.45 am on Monday morning after the water level reached 11.75 feet, the third warning is likely to be issued on Monday night. The water level is increasing by the hour due to heavy rains in the catchment area of Godavari river.
Road connectivity was snapped to 36 villages in Devipatnam mandal of Agency area and 15 families of Veeravaramlanka of the mandal were shifted to a safer place. The revenue officials shifted 30 fishermen families of Kedarilanka under road-cum-rail bridge to safety. Sitammavagu in the Agency area is also in spate with flood water.
In Konaseema, all the low-lying areas were submerged in flood water and people are worried over the condition of river bunds. Revenue, police and other officials were directed to stay alert in their offices and attend to emergency duties. Three control rooms have been opened--at the Collectorate in Kakinada (0884-2365224), Rajahmundry (0883 2442344) and Amalapuram (08856-233100), which will work round-the-clock. Milk, bread and other essentials are kept ready for supply to relief camps.
Collector Neetu Prasad directed the officials to supervise the flood water level from time to time and shift people of lanka villages and low-lying areas to safer places.
The heavy inflows into Godavari river had no major impact on West Godavari district. However, 22 villages in Polavaram mandal were cut off as flood water was flowing over Kadem bridge. Collector Katamaneni Bhaskar is supervising the flood situation and asked the officials to remain alert. Rescue and relief teams have been kept ready to meet any eventuality.