Flood situation continues to be grim

Vijayawada, Aug 12 (UNI) With the discharge of 5.32 lakh cusecs of surplus flood water into sea from Prakasam Barrage today, the flood situation continues to be grim in the low-lying areas along river Krishna.

Talking to UNI, Krishna district Joint Collector S Suresh Kumar said the present situation would continue for the next three to four days, following heavy discharges to Nagarjunasagar Dam from Srisailam and Jurala reservoirs.

People were evacuated from the areas of Padmavathighat, Ranigarithota, Ramalingeswarnagar and Police Quarters downstream of the barrage after flood waters entered these areas.

Facilitating easy transport of household goods to the relief centres, the vehicles would be stationed near the flood-hit areas.

The irrigation authorities would sound the second flood warning after the outflows from the barrage crossed 5.69 lakh cusecs, he said.

People living in the island villages would be evacuated if the discharge exceeds 5.50 lakh cusecs, official sources said.

Basing on the discharge from the Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs, the officials were releasing water into sea in proportion to ensure that the discharge was not be more than six lakh cusecs, which could pose a threat to many islands and habitations in the downstream.

The officials are also monitoring the inflows into Krishna river from its tributaries of Katleru, Munneru and Wyra.

Meanwhile, sources said about 4.92 lakh cusecs of water was released from Nagarjunasagar at 0600 hours this morning, which would reach Prakasam Barrage by tomorrow afternoon.

The full reservoir level (FRL) of the barrage stood at 14.4 feet.

As much as 16,509 cusecs of water was released into irrigation canals, sources added.

UNI CS AKJ KP1104