AP floods: death toll rises to 51

Hyderabad, Aug 6 (UNI) Rain-related deaths rose to 51, while a lorry turned turtle after colliding with a motorcycle killing three persons, who were crossing a flooded road at Mahabubabad in Warangal district today.

In Adilabad district, the flood situation worsened with the Penganga and Pranahita rivers sbmerging more areas. As many as 200 villages were marooned. Traffic on the National Highway 7 (NH-7) came to a standstill for a day and hundreds of vehicles were being stranded on either side of the flooded road.

Due to the discharge of water from Godavari from the upper riparian state of Maharashtra, the Sri Ram Sagar Project was receiving heavy inflows. All the 42 crest gates of the project were raised, releasing 2.5 lakh cusecs of water.

Godavari water level at Bhadrachalam reached 66 feet against the danger level of 53 feet at which the last danger signal is generally hoisted.

In Khammam district around three lakh people were affected due to the floods. 12 boats and two helicoptors were pressed into relief works. The district collector said two more helicoptors were also in service from the Eastern Naval Command.

In V R Puram in Khammam district, ten families are reportedly taking shelter on the terrace of a building waiting for help.

At the Dowleswaram barrage, water level has reached 22 feet and 26 lakh cusecs of water was discharged into the sea.

In the Konaseema area of East Godavari district, 100 villages were marooned.

In Srikakulam after a brief respite, there were heavy rains leading to a flood situation. River Nagavali water level which created havoc was again on the rise. About 96 villages and the district headquarters are still water logged.

Peraiah, worker at Munneru Pump House, who was stranded amid flood water for the past three days, was rescued today. He was admitted to hospital.

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