Flood threat increases

Vijayawada, Aug 4: The flood threat to the low lying areas of downstream of the Prakasam barrage across Krishna river here increased further this evening with about 3.15 lakh cusecs of water was let into sea posing a severe threat of inundation.

Talking to newspersons here today after visiting the possible flood threat low lying areas District Collector Navin Mittal said, about 4.40 lakh cusecs of flood water was discharged from Nagarjunasagar reservoir to Prakasam barrage till 1700 hrs this evening.

Following incessant rains in upland areas of Khammam and Warangal districts, the Muniyeru, Wyra and Kattaleru rivers were in spate, he said and added about 70,000 cusecs of water was expected to reach Prakasam barrage from those local rivers by tonight.

Mr Mittal said about 3,950 persons were evacuated from low lying areas so far and housed in seven relief camps. The administration would provide food and drinking water, besides sanitation to them.

For each centre a Senior Officer was assigned and the city was divided into seven zones for taking up relief and evacuation works.

He said 100 swimmers all along the river and at Prakasam barrage were kept ready for rescuing the people.

If the discharges crosses four lakh cusecs from barrage to sea, 2,500 persons would further be evacuated, he stated.

He said whereever the area was flooded the electricity would be disconnected to prevent electrocution.

Mr Mittal said at Chandralapadu mandal in Krishna district, 70 of 130 persons who were struck on Lanka island due to gushing of waters, were rescued after a boat was sent there. He said efforts were on to rescue more persons. In another incident at Chavitakalu village in kanchikacharla mandal, three persons who went for sand quarrying were missing and search operations were on to rescue them, he said.

Mr Mittal said due to heavy rains in Southern maharashtra and Northern Karnataka the flood water from jurala was alarmingly increasing at Srisailam, which was being sent to Nagarjunasagar reservoir and from there to Prakasam barrage.

He said the Krishna flood bund at Ramalingeswarnagar would be constructed with an amount of Rs 6.52 crore to prevent flooding of the area in case of floods.

The Collector also said the State Government has accorded the administrative sanction for the 58-km double-laning of krishna river bund between Vijayawada and Puligadda in Diviseema area.

The work, estimated to cost Rs 62 crore has been in the pipeline even since Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy announced the bund widening and strengthening during his visit to flood affected areas in August last year.

He said the bund strengthening would prevent inundation of the villages abutting Krishna river.

Earlier the Collector visited the Prakasam barrage, Ramalingeswarnagar, Pandit Nehru Station and Padmavathi ghat to take stock of the situation. He also interacted with people rehabilitated in the relief camps.

Meanwhile the visitors started flocking to view the sight of gushing waters at the Prakasam barrage.

UNI