Godavari River crosses second danger mark at Telangana's Bhadrachalam

Hyderabad, July 31 (IANS) The Godavari River crossed the second danger mark at Bhadrachalam in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Friday, prompting authorities to alert people living in low-lying areas along the river. 

The water level, which crossed the first danger mark of 43 feet Friday morning, rose to 48 feet in the afternoon.

According to the officials of the Central Water Commission, the water level is likely to rise further due to continuing inflows from upstream. The third danger signal will be hoisted at 53 feet.

The flow at Bhadrachalam was 11.44 lakh cusecs.

Annadanam Satram area in the Sree Seetha Ramachandraswamy temple premises was flooded due to backwaters. Motors installed to pump backwaters into the river broke down, resulting in the inundation of the area.

Godavari and its tributaries were in spate due to heavy inflows from upstream following heavy rains for the last two days.

Meanwhile, authorities rescued 38 people trapped in a sand ramp near Cherla in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. They had gone to sand reaches for sand loading in trucks on Friday morning but were caught in flood waters. The district administration rescued all of them by deploying boats. They included truck drivers, cleaners and machine operators.

Road connectivity between Cherla and Venkatapuram in Mulugu district was snapped due to floods in Godavari.

A few villages in Mulugu district were inundated due to heavy rains and floods. Authorities tried to shift affected people to relief camps, but they resisted this and demanded that instead of shifting them every year, they be sanctioned houses in safe places.

Meanwhile, rivulets and streams were overflowing in united Adilabad district as a result of heavy rains during the last two days.

Penganga and Pranahita rivers were receiving flood waters. Overflowing Penganga inundated crops in the district, causing huge losses to farmers.

With the Kadam project in Nirmal district receiving heavy inflows from upstream, authorities were releasing flood water to the Yellampalli project.

Heavy rains disrupted coal production in the open-cast and underground mines of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) in Mancherial district. The public sector company is estimated to have suffered a production loss of Rs 18 crore.

Meanwhile, the Jurala project across the Krishna River in Jogulamba Gadwal district was receiving heavy inflows from upstream. Authorities have opened 24 crest gates to release the water downstream.

Heavy rains in north Telangana and inflows from upstream have increased the levels in various projects in Telangana. Inflows have increased into Sriram Sagar, Yellampalli, Singur, Nizam Sagar, Kadam, Upper Maner, Mid Maner, and Lower Maner.

--IANS

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