4.90 lakh cusecs flood water let into the sea

Vijayawada, Aug 19 (UNI) Irrigation officials released 4.90 lakh cusecs of water into the sea from Prakasam Barrage at 0800 hrs this morning, following heavy discharge of flood water from Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar Reservoirs.

Talking to sources, an Irrigation Department official said another 5.16 lakh cusecs of water was released from Nagarjunasagar at 0600 hrs and it would reach Prakasam Barrage by tomorrow.

He said the full reservoir level (FRL) of the barrage stood at 13.7 feet at present and all the 70 crest gates were lifted to send the surplus water out.

As much as 18,024 cusecs was let into irrigation canals, he said.

The first flood warning imposed on August 10 was still in force after the discharge at the Prakasam Barrage crossed 3.97 lakh cusecs.

A large number of houses in low-lying areas of Ramalingeswaranagar were under six to eight feet of water for the past ten days.

There is no sign in decrease of flood water in the River Krishna for the next 24 hours, the official added.

UNI