Decrease in rain, flood bring respite for people

Vijayawada, Aug 6 (UNI) Much to the relief of people living in low- lying areas at Prakasam Barrage, the Irrigation Authorities today reduced the discharge of flood water into sea, with steady decrease in inflow.

Talking to UNI, Krishna District Sub-Collector S Suresh Kumar said the discharge was brought down from 5.4 lakh cusecs to 4.6 lakh cusecs.

He said, about 2.3 lakh cusecs of water was released to Prakasham Barrage from Nagarjunasagar Reservoir till 0600 hours.

However, the inflow is likely to rise by the evening as the barrage may receive fresh inflow from Jurala, Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar Reservoirs.

The barrage which received inflow of 1.2 lakh cusecs from Munneru Wyra, Kattleru and Palleru rivers came down to 70,000 cusecs today.

Mr Kumar said five persons and cattle stranded on the Lanka Island in Rayyuru village in Thotlavalluru mandal, were rescued this morning.

The three members of a family who were washed away in the flood waters on Friday last, were yet to be traced.

Municipal Administration Minister Koneru Ranga Rao visited the flood-affected areas in the city and reviewed the situation with the officials last evening.

The construction of Munneru Dam was suspended following the submergence of the area.

On the agricultural front, paddy, nurseries and vegetables were submerged at Kutikalapudi village. Nearly 500 acres of crops were damaged due to flood and all the fields close to the Enugugadlavagu drain were inundated, official sources said.

Traffic between Vijayawada and Hyderabad which went haywire yesterday with the overflowing of Munneru rivulet on National Highway nine near Keesara Bridge was restored today as the water receded.

APSRTC sources said, buses departing from Vijayawada to Hyderabad were running on the normal route via Ibrahimpatnam, Kodada and Suryapet.

UNI CS MSJ PM1107