Godavari crosses second warning level at Bhadrachalam, authorities on alert

The Godavari river crossed the second warning level at Bhadrachalam on Tuesday, rising to 48.8 feet with heavy inflows. Collector Jitesh V Patil urged vigilance in flood-hit villages as officials stepped up relief measures and prohibited bathing and boat travel.

Kothagudem: River Godavari has been rising at Bhadrachalam and crossed the second warning level on Tuesday.

The water level crossed the 48 feet mark at 3.30 am and at 8 am the river was flowing at 48.80 feet with a discharge of 11.82 lakh cusecs, informed district Collector Jitesh V Patil. As water level is expected to rise due to heavy rains in upper reaches and people living in flood affected villages should be vigilant, he said.

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Authorities have already taken relief measures and are ready to set up more relief centres if necessary. Officials of concerned departments told to ensure that all basic facilities like drinking water, food, medical services, and power supply at the relief centres.

Officials of revenue, police, medical, panchayat raj, municipal, electricity and other departments have been monitoring the flood affected areas. Public should not bathe in the Godavari under any circumstances and boat trips in the river are completely prohibited, Patil said.

In case of emergency, people could contact the control rooms at the following numbers: sub Collector’s office, Bhadrachalam-08743-232444, flood control room-7981219425, district Collector’s office- 08744-241950 and ITDA office, Bhadrachalam-7995268352, he added.

Transportation to several villages in flood affected mandals has been hit due to rise in water level in Godavari. Officials at Taliperu medium irrigation project in Cherla mandal lifted three gates of the project to discharge 3905 cusecs excess water downstream.