Central team tours AP, flood situation grim

Hyderabad, Aug 19 (UNI) A Central team extensively toured coastal and Telangana regions in Andhra Pradesh as floods continued in major rivers, including Godavari and Krishna following fresh spell of rains in the catchment areas in the upper riparian states.

The authorities continued flood alert to those living on the banks of major rivers, including Godavari and Krishna.

With an inflow of 13.90 lakh cusecs, Godavari river crosed the second danger level of 13.75 ft by 0.25 ft at the Dowleswaram Barrage tonight, forcing authorities to discharge 13.78 lakh cusecs, panicking the flood-hit people of the Konaseema region once again.

The level was short of the first danger level of 43 ft by just 0.50 ft in the temple town of Bhadrachalam.

The seven-member Central team headed by Union Home Joint Secretary Vipin Kumar branched into three groups and visited the Konaseema region, North Coastal Andhra, as also Telangana districts of Adilabad and Khammam.

The flood situation in the Krishna basin continued to be alarming, as the authorities discharged a huge 4.86 lakh cusecs from Jurala, 5.03 lakh cusecs from Srisailam, 5.29 lakh cusecs from Nagarjunsagar and 4.90 lakh cusecs from Prakasam Barrage into sea, after diverting 18,124 cusecs into irrigation canals in the Krishna Delta region.

The situation in Kurnool and Mahaboobnagar districts was also alarming, as discharge was stepped up to 1.70 lakh cusecs from Tungabhadra, a tributary of Krishna.

The visit came close on the heels of the visit of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and the Centre releasing an immediate assistance of Rs 400 crore.

Coinciding with the visit of the Central team, the State Government has put the requirement of Central assistance at Rs 1,435.19 crore.

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