RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM / VIJAYAWADA: Incessant, heavy rainfall across the Godavari catchment areas in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha has led to a dramatic rise in water levels over the past 24 hours. The rapid swell has prompted disaster management authorities and district administrations in Andhra Pradesh to sound a high alert as surging floodwaters move downstream.
At Bhadrachalam, the water level reached 48 feet, prompting officials to issue the second flood warning as nearly 12 lakh cusecs of floodwater flowed toward AP. At the Polavaram Project site, the spillway water level climbed to 30 metres, heightening concerns for low-lying areas downstream.
At the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowleswaram, inflows crossed 3 lakh cusecs on Friday and are projected to surge sharply to 15–17 lakh cusecs over the next two to three days as key tributaries, including Indravati, Sabari, and Pranahita rivers, remain in full spate.
Barrage Superintending Engineer (SE) G Srinivasa Rao stated that the first flood warning at Dowleswaram (triggered at 11.75 feet and inflows over 10 lakh cusecs) is likely to be issued late Friday night. The second warning (triggered at 13.75 feet and inflows exceeding 13 lakh cusecs) may follow on Saturday if inflows continue to rise.
In response, a high alert has been sounded across submerged agency mandals—including Chinturu, VR Puram, Kunavaram, Yetapaka, Devipatnam, Velerupadu, and Kukkunuru, in Polavaram and Eluru districts, as well as 32 island villages spread across 11 mandals in Konaseema.
Mobilising emergency responses, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), led by MD Prakhar Jain, has deployed six rescue teams (three NDRF and three SDRF) across Amalapuram, Rajahmundry, Chintoor, VR Puram and Jangareddygudem. Polavaram Collector K Dinesh Kumar reviewed the situation in Chinturu, identifying all 39 villages in VR Puram as highly vulnerable and preparing for evacuations to relief centres if required. APSDMA has advised citizens needing help to contact 112, 1070, or 1800 425 0101.
The rising backwaters have submerged the Gandi Pochamma temple, forcing the suspension of Papikondalu boat services from Gandi Pochamma and Pochavaram. Tourist spots in Mothugudem and Maredumilli have been closed, and causeways—including the one connecting Mulakallanka Island near Rajamahendravaram—have been washed away.
Meanwhile, the Water Resources Department has begun diverting floodwater via the Purushothapatnam Lift Irrigation Scheme and canal networks to replenish reservoirs and nearly 60 irrigation tanks across East Godavari for the ongoing Kharif season.
