Heavy flood continues in Godavari

By Our Special Correspondent

East Godavari, Alluri Seetharamaraju Manyam District, Eluru District and Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema districts continued to suffer severe flooding on Wednesday as well.

Thousands of families are still trapped in villages and the district administration is facing an uphill task to evacuate people to safer places. Konaseema, Alluri Seetharamaraju Manyam districts were the most affected due to Godavari floods.

Rajamahendravaram Irrigation officials said that the water level in Godavari is likely to rise by Thursday and a third danger warning is imminent at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage.

The people of Konaseema district are worried due to the incessant floods. A third flood alert was issued at Bhadrachalam as the Godavari River reached 53 feet. Second flood at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage (SACB).

About 18 mandals in Konaseema district are likely to be flooded. Road connectivity has been disrupted at P Gannavaram, Ravulapalem, Ainavilli, Mamidikuduru and other villages in Konaseema district. Due to strong winds, coconut trees fell on the roads.

Officials said 163 hectares of rice in Lankan villages were damaged by water logging. Due to the effect of floods and rains, people are facing difficulties for essential goods such as milk.

Due to submergence of water, live stock is also suffering due to lack of grass and fodder. The entire village of Nagulanka was inundated and locals were using village boats or wading through waist-deep water to safety. They lamented that no official help is being received. Those who have concrete houses prefer to move to the first floor and stay there.

Konaseema District Revenue Officer (DRO) CH Satthibabu told that 30 villages in P Gannavaram, Ravulapalem and Ainavilli mandals were flooded. Around 163 hectares of paddy has been damaged in the district.

The officials said that the cattle from the flood affected Lankan villages have been moved to safer areas. In Etapaka, Chintur, Devipatnam and VR Puram mandals of Alluri Seetharamaraju district, there was a shortage of essential commodities in the villages due to disruption of road connectivity.

Vegetable farmers like banana, papaya and brinjal were drowned in water and the horticulture farmers suffered a lot. Bananas and papayas are to be taken to the market next week. Around 10 truckloads of vegetables are sent daily to various places like Hyderabad, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra.