Godavari flood fury continues

By Our Special Correspondent

East, West Godavari, Konaseema, Eluru and ASR districts continue to be affected by the Godavari River. The maximum flood of 16, 02,555 lakh cusecs was released at Dauleshwaram barrage on Thursday. The water level at Dauleshwaram Barrage is 15.60 feet and Telangana has reached 52 feet above Bhadrachalam Dam.

Flood Conservator Kashi Visveswara Rao said that the flood is likely to recede in a day or two due to the rains falling in the upper catchment areas. Due to the flow of water, the 540 km long flood bank has been damaged and instructions have been issued to the concerned authorities to buy sandbags to strengthen them.

135 island villages in Konaseema and Godavari districts and more than 200 villages in eight tribal mandals have been affected.

A three-year-old girl died while her mother was being taken to Jaggavaram primary health center in a boat due to high fever. ASR district administration has announced fifty thousand assistance to the family.

Meanwhile, CPM East Godavari district secretary T. Arun said that all the villages in the 45.72 contour of the Polavaram project have been submerged. He said that the state government has included 20 villages in VR Puram and one village in Koonavaram mandal in the contour of 41.15 meters, while the villages in the remaining four mandals have been included in the second contour of 45.72 meters. He said that 373 habitations in 222 villages were damaged.

He expressed shock over the submergence of the R&R colony built in Etapaka mandal. They demanded that the state government and the center distribute compensation to the displaced families.