RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: In the wake of heavy rains in the State, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held an urgent meeting with officials of the CMO and a teleconference with the Eluru District Collector and SP on Thursday night. As there is possibility of breaches to Pedda Vagu at two places, Naidu directed officials to take steps to avoid loss of humans and cattle loss. It is learnt that there is possibility of the floodwater entering into 15 villages of Andhra Pradesh and three villages in Telangana.
Early on Thursday, five people were rescued after the car in which they were travelling was washed away in the floodwaters of Velerupadu Pedavagu stream in Eluru district. Incessant rains have been lashing the region for the past few days. The five persons were going to Rudramkota village in Velerupadu mandal from Rajamahendravaram when their car was pulled by strong currents in the stream. All of them managed to get out and take shelter on a patch of land, surrounded by floodwater. Hearing their cries for help, villagers rushed to the spot and swiftly rescued with ropes.
Normal life in several villages of the Agency regions in Eluru, Alluri Sitarama Raju, and parts of East Godavari districts was hit due to heavy rains.
With the intervention of Eluru Collector K Vetri Selvi, Indian Navy rescued 30 people who were stranded in the flood-hit Narayanapuram of Aswaraopeta mandal
With the intervention of Eluru Collector K Vetri Selvi, Indian Navy rescued 30 people who were stranded in the flood-hit Narayanapuram of Aswaraopeta mandal Photo | Express
Normal life comes to a halt in Godavari districts
Gates were opened and floodwater was discharged. Subsequently, an alert was sounded in the low-lying areas, downstream of the tank. He asked people not to cross the streams or swim in the tank.
As the Bineru Canal, Pattinapalem, Marekendeyapuram, Kallacheruvu, Kivvapuram, and Asnnagudem streams were overflowing, people were asked not to cross them.
Godavari districts witnessed heavy rains on Thursday with water-logging in Rajamahendravaram, Nidadavolu, and other towns. Traffic jams due to water-logging created trouble for the people.
As per the flood control room at Dowleswaram Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage, surplus water is being discharged at the rate of 1.53 lakh cusecs into the sea. With the heavy rains in the upper catchment areas of the River, it is expected that the floodwater level may steadily increase in the coming days.
The headworks executive engineer Kasi Visweswara Rao said the water level at the barrage is recorded at 10 feet.
Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh toured Nidadavolu town in East Godavari and inspected the rain-affected RTC bus stand and other low-lying areas. He directed the authorities to pump out the water from the bus stand immediately. He said the bus stand, Ganapathi centre, and Gandhi Bomma centre in the town were affected due to the heavy rains.
In Telangana, 30 people, who were stranded in the flood-hit Narayanapuram village of Aswaraopeta mandal, which borders the Eluru district of Andhra Pradesh, were rescued with the help of the Indian Navy.
They were stranded at Katta Maisamma temple in Narayanapuram after floodwater was released from the Pedda Vagu project. Eluru district Collector K Vetri Selvi took the issue to the Chief Minister’s Office, who in turn sought help from the Indian Navy.
