River Krishna flood water recedes, alert withdrawn

Vijayawada, Aug 13 (UNI) The flood situation in river Krishna today improved with the flood waters receding, even as the authorities withdrew the flood alert sounded to the people living downstream Prakasam barrage.

Irrigation department sources told UNI here that about 3.15 lakh cusecs of flood water was let out into the sea this afternoon as against 4.12 lakh cusecs of water yesterday. About 17,495 cusecs of water was released into the irrigation canals.

The water level at the barrage stood at 12 ft, the sources said, adding that the authorities had released 3.90 lakh cusecs of surplus flood water to the downstream Dowleswaram barrage this afternoon.

The water would reach the barrage tomorrow.

The heavy downpour had come as a big boon to hydro-electric stations at Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar, with both generating power continuously to meet 60 per cent of the State's demand, the sources added.

The Municipal Corporation officials evacuated 129 families, living along the banks of the swollen river, to relief camps in view of the increased discharge of flood water from the Prakasam barrage.

UNI