Godavari flowing above danger mark

Rajahmundry, Aug 5: River Godavari was flowing above the danger mark this morning, according to Central Water Commission (CWC) officials.

The water level stood at 60.5 feet at 0700 hrs Bhadrachalam, well above the third warning level of 53 feet.

Official sources told UNI here, following heavy inflow, water level at Dowleswaram increased to 18.20 feet and all 175 gates opened to release more than 20 lakh cusecs of water into the sea from the barrage.

Another report from Vijayawada said traffic on the busy Vijayawada-Hyderabad National Highway was affected as River Munneru was overflowing on the highway at Itavaram Village. Vehicles proceeding to Hyderabad were stopped at Ibrahimpatnam while incoming vehicles from the capital were detained at Nandigama, according to official sources.

Meanwhile, Irrigation officials said about 1.2 lakh cusecs of flood water from River Munneru was likely to reach Prakasam Barrage for discharge into the sea.

About 5.8 lakh cusecs of water was discharged into sea from barrage leading to submergence of low-lying areas in Krishna Lanka, Ramalingeswarnagar and Ranigarithota.

Swimmers were kept ready on the embankments to respond to emergencies.

The inflows from Nagarjunasagar reservoir reduced by noon with 1.4 lakh cusecs released to the barrage where the level stood at 14 feet at 1100 hrs.

UNI