Flood alert in East Godavari district as Godavari water rises

Rajahmundry (AP), July 19: The East Godavari district collector Neetu Kumari Prasad today said that the administration has alerted mandal officers, as Godavari river crossed the first danger mark at Dowleswaram bridge this evening.

The river is expected to rise further during the night. "The second warning is expected to be issued by 0300 hrs tomorrow, as the water level at Dowleswaram bridge was alarmingly increasing due to heavy rains in the catchment areas of Bhadrachalam, Dummugudeam and other places," said Superintendent Engineer D Kasi Visweswara Rao.

The collector has directed the officials to take all the necessary steps to shift people living in low-lying areas to safer places during the night. Amalapuram Revenue Divisional Officer Sampath Kumar advised the people living in low-lying areas of Mummudivaram, Athrapuram, P Gannavaram, Mammdikuru and Aiyanvalli to shift to safer places.

Maredumilli recorded the highest rainfall at 22.2 mm, while the whole district received 171 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, the release added.

PTI