AP flood alert: Second warning flag hoisted in Godavari

With water rising to an alarming level at the Dowleswaram barrage in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, the second warning flag was hoisted in the area, a senior irrigation officials said here today.

Several villages in the East Godavari district remained marooned as river Godavari was in spate.

Water level at the Dowleswaram barrage was 15.90 feet at 10 a.m., and it will rise further by afternoon but expected to stabilise by evening, Superintendent Engineer (Irrigation circle, Dowleswaram) and Flood conservator, S Suguna Rao, said.

The water level is now 15.90 feet against its full reservoir level of 24-feet and a second warning flag has been hoisted last night, he said, adding, revenue, police and irrigation officials have been alerted to take precautionary measures.

So far, over 15 lakhs cusecs of water has been released in the sea, Rao said.

Water level may recede by evening, if it does not, then the third warning flag will be shown, he said.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister N China Rajappa today inspected Allavaram mandal and directed officials to move people living in low-lying areas to safer places.

Meanwhile, East Godavari district collector Neetu Prasad held a review meeting on the flood situation today and directed officials to take all precautionary measures in view of flood threat and shift people living in low-lying areas to safer places.

She also directed the irrigation officials to inspect the bunds in the district.

"We have taken all precautionary measures to prevent damage to be caused due to raising of water level," she added.

A warning was also issued by the district collector office to the fishermen not to venture into the sea.

People living in Veervani Lank and Thoyyaru of Devipatnam mandal, Kounavaripalem and 30 fishermen from Bridge Lanka area in Rajahmundry, around 250 people of Rampachodavaram and Amalapuram areas, 40 people from Kedaru Lanka were shifted to safer places as a precautionary measures due to threat of flood, Prasad said.

Control rooms have been set up at Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Amalapuram, besides mandal offices in the flood prone-areas.

A flood control has been also been set up at Polavaram in West Godavari district as several parts of the district are affected by the deluge.