District administration on alert for possible flooding

Vijayawada, Aug 4 (UNI) The administration here has been put on alert against possible flooding following the discharge of more than four lakh cusecs of water to the Prakasam Barrage from the Nagarjunsagar Reservoir.

Irrigation Department sources told UNI the flood water was expected to reach the barrage by this evening after which it would be discharged into the sea.

Irrigation, Revenue and Municipal Corporation authorities are closely monitoring the situation and those staying close to river banks are being evacuated.

About 64,250 cusecs of water was let into the sea at 1000 hrs today with the level at the barrage maintained at 12 feet.

Besides, about 13,480 cusecs were discharged into irrigation canals.

Meanwhile, official sources said the district administration had cautioned people living along the river and canal bunds to move to safer places in view of the huge inflows of water.

The first flood warning at Prakasam Barrage will be issued when the discharge crossed 3.97 lakh cusecs followed by the second at 5.66 lakh cusecs.

A control room has been set up at the municipal corporation and the ghats of River Krishna divided into seven zones with zonal officers appointed to monitor the flood situation and evacuate the people to safer places.

About 800 families would be evacuated along the two-km-long river bank starting from the areas near the barrage such as Krishna Lanka, Ramalingeswaranagar and Ranigari Thota.

Officials estimate nearly 3,500 families would have to vacate the houses if the five lakh cusecs were released from the barrage into the sea.

UNI CS GM LL DS1218