SRIKAKULAM: With the heavy rain in its catchment areas, the Vamsadhara river is in spate in north Andhra Pradesh and has inundated several low-lying areas in this district.
The inundated villages are in Bhamini, Hiramandal, Santakaviti, Veeraghattam, Burja and Palakonda mandals. In Burja mandal, flood waters submerged several paddy fields. Communication to Kollivalasa village has been cut off. A primary health centre (PHC) in Annavaram village in Palakonda mandal and an elementary school in K Vekatapuram of Regidi Amadalavalasa mandal are under water.
Rescue operations have been taken up but local officials reported that one man was swept away in Talada village in Bhamini mandal.
With the Vamsadhara rapidly rising, personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Santakaviti and Veeraghattam mandals.
To ease the floods, The Irrigation Department has lifted 22 of the 24 crest gates at the Gotta Barrage on the Vamsadhara at Hiramandal, releasing 34,000 cusecs of water from the river.