Toll put at 108, Krishna tributary Bhima in spate

Hyderabad, Aug 10 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Government today announced the toll in due to flood and rains at 108 today as a flood alert was sounded along the course of River Krishna with its tributary Bhima in spate.

With the recovery of bodies of persons earlier reported missing in Visakhapatnam, the toll rose to 108 in the state, even as the flood situation, which affected 6.49 lakh families in 16 of the 23 districts, continued to be grim, Disaster Management Commissioner Debabratha Kanta said in a release.

The Collectors of Krishna and Guntur were asked to evacuate people from low-lying areas as the water discharge was increased to 5.5 lakh cusecs from the Nagarjunasagar reservoir, he added.

A report from Vijayawada said the first flood warning was issued in Krishna disrict as 3.97 lakh cusecs of water was let out into the sea from Prakasham Barrage.

In a compassionate gesture, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited provided free telephone service to flood victims in tribal areas of West Godavari district, a report from Eluru said, adding the services were hit in the exchanges of Ayodhyalnaka, Kanakkayalanka and Dondapudi.

Over 1.50 lakh of 2.70 lakh affected families were still housed in 537 relief camps even as the level in the Godavari slowly started receding from the peak mark. The flood level in Godavari continued to remain above the third danger mark of 52 feet by 0.8 ft at the temple town of Bhadrachalam and at 17.4 ft at Dowleswaram in Rajahmundry.

Vizianagaram, East Godavari and Khammam accounted for 13 deaths each followed by Nizamabad (8), West Godavari, Karimnagar and Srikakulam (6), Krishna and Warangal (5), Hyderabad (3), Guntur and Medak (2) and Adilabad and Nalgonda (1).

UNI TEAM SM PA VV1711