Hundreds of villages in Andhra remain marooned

Hundreds of villages in flood-hit Andhra Pradesh Sunday remained marooned with Godavari river still flowing above the danger mark, officials said.

The incessant rains in north Telangana districts over last five days triggered floods in Godavari, which is flowing above the danger mark both at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district and at Dhowaleswaram in East Godavari district.

The heavy rains under the impact of low pressure area over Bay of Bengal and the floods have so far claimed 12 lives, disrupted road transport and damaged crops over thousands of acres in six districts, officials said.

More than 20,000 people from marooned areas have been shifted to 100 relief camps opened by the authorities.

Two helicopters of Indian Air Force were pressed into service for rescue and relief operation in the flood-hit Khammam district. Food and water packets are being dropped in dozens of marooned villages.

The Godavari level at Bhadrachalam crossed 60 feet. The authorities were continuing third flood warning.

Union minister of state Balram Naik along with state minister Ramreddy Venkat Reddy made an aerial survey of the flood-hit Bhadrachalam.

Several villages in in Konavaram mandal of Khammam district have lost contact with the outside world. About 2,000 people were moved to relief camps and safe places.

Huge inflows from upstream has flooded dozens of villages in East Godavari and West Godavari districts. Officials said 1,300 people were shifted to safe places.

Four people were missing in East Godavari district as their boat capsized in a stream. Some villages in East Godavari district also remained under water.

Several villages in Polavaram mandal of West Godavari district remained marooned due to swollen Godavari river.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy directed officials to speed up the relief work in affected areas. He directed officials to ensure supply of food packets, drinking water and medicines to the people in marooned villages.

He asked officials to continuously monitor the situation and if necessary take help of the Army, Indian Air Force and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for rescue and relief works.

With the met office forecasting more rains in Telangana and coastal Andhra over the next 4two days, the chief minister asked the officials to remain on high alert.