Authorities sound alert as Godavari continues to rise at Dowleswaram, nears first warning mark
The Godavari continued to rise on Sunday, with the water level at the Dowleswaram Barrage touching 42.10 feet at 7 p.m, 0.90 feet below the
The Godavari continued to rise on Sunday, with the water level at the Dowleswaram Barrage touching 42.10 feet at 7 p.m, 0.90 feet below the first warning mark. The first warning level is fixed at 43 feet, when the water release from Bhadrachalam in Telangana reaches 9,32,288 cusecs. The second warning level is 48 feet, with a discharge of 11,44,645 cusecs, while the third warning level is 53 feet, when the river carries 14,26,684 cusecs of water. Authorities are closely monitoring the flood situation in the Godavari basin, particularly in the low-lying areas, as heavy inflows continue from the upstream regions. Historical records show that the highest flood level ever recorded at Bhadrachalam was 75.60 feet in 1986, when the river carried around 27.02 lakh cusecs of water.
During the severe floods of 2022, the water level in the river reached 71.30 feet, with a discharge of 24.43 lakh cusecs, making it one of the highest flood levels recorded in recent decades. Officials have advised residents living in the vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow the instructions issued by the authorities as the situation continues to be monitored. Meanwhile, the Eluru district administration has intensified the relief and restoration measures in the flood-affected villages of Velairpadu and Kukunoor mandals with the receding of the floodwaters. The officials have launched large-scale restoration work, focusing on electricity supply, sanitation and healthcare services in the affected areas.
According to the officials, the Electricity Department personnel restored power supply to nine remote villages located in the hilly areas after carrying out repairs to power lines connected to the Koida 11-kV feeder. The personnel travelled by launches and boats across the Pedavagu stream near Koida to reach the affected locations and undertake repairs to damaged infrastructure. The district administration also stepped up sanitation measures in the flood-hit villages such as Ganapavaram, Amaravaram, Maredupaka, Kukunoor, Velairpadu, Sivakasipuram, Thotakuragommu, Bhoodevipeta, Dacharam, Gommugudem, Repakagommu and Rudrankota. Sanitation workers sprayed disinfectants and mosquito-control chemicals to prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases after floodwaters recede. Relief camps established at Dacharam and Sivakasipuram were providing food and other essential supplies to the displaced residents.
The BriefWire