SRIKAKULAM/VIZIANAGARAM: With the heavy rain in the upper catchments, Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers are in spate, inundating several low-lying areas in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.
Several villages in Bhamini, Hiramandal, Santakaviti, Veeraghattam, Burja and Plakonda mandals have been inundated. The administration has deployed NDRF teams in Santakaviti and Veeraghattam mandals.
Both the rivers are flowing above the danger levels.
The water level in Vamsadhara at Gotta Barrage was at 35.94 metre when compared to the full reservoir level (FRL) of 38.1 mm on Monday morning. By the evening, it reached 37.67 metre. With the inflows reaching 33,100 cusecs, the officials lifted 22 crest gates of the total 24 at Gotta Barrage. As the roads were inundated, communication to Kollivalasa village has been cut off. Flood water entered into a PHC at Annavaram in Palakonda mandal and the school at K Vekatapuram of R Amadalavalasa mandal.
“We could not evacuate the villages, but have alerted people living along the river bank areas in Palakonda, Santakaviti and Veeraghattam,” said Palakonda CI Suri Naidu, who is leading a rescue team.
Flood water swelled on to the roads between Kollivalasa and Guttavalli villages. With the roads being damaged at many places, traffic was disrupted. The Vamsadhara water crossed the banks at Madanapuram village in Kotturu mandal, inundating crop fields.
“Crop fields in 300 acres have been inundated in Palakonda mandal limits,” said agriculture joint director J Rama Rao.Despite the condition was severe in the morning, the water levels were declining gradually, said Palakonda RDO R Gunnayya. “Evacuation is not needed in Palakonda as the condition is getting normal. However, we have alerted our teams deployed in the villages,” he said. Collector K Dhanunjaya Reddy and SP Trivikram Varma visited the river bank areas.
Man washed away while crossing river
A man was washed away in the flood water at Talada in Bhamini mandal of Srikakulam district. Gopala Rao from Talada was crossing Vamsadhara River on his way to Kasi Nagar at the other side. Attempts of villagers to rescue Rao proved futile.
Trains rescheduled
Visakhapatnam: With the heavy rains in Odisha and flood in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, the Railways authorities have cancelled, diverted and rescheduled train services.
Cancelled services
Train No. 12755 Sambalpur-Nanded Express leaving Sambalpur on Monday
Train No. 12756 Nanded-Sambalpur Express leaving Nanded on Tuesday
Train No. 18518 Visakhapatnam-Korba express leaving Vizag on Monday
Train No. 18517 Korba-Vizag Express leaving Korba on Monday
Diverted
Train No. 17482 Tirupati-Bilaspur Express leaving Tirupati on July 16 to run via Vizianagaram-Bhubaneswar-Angul-Sambalpur Road-IB
Train No 18112 Yesvantpur-Tata Express which left Yesvantpur on July 16 to run via Vizianagaram, Khurda Road, Bhadrak, Tata
Train No 22837 Hatia-Ernakulam Express leaving Hatia on Monday to run via Jharsuguda, Bilaspur, Nagpur and Ballharsha
Tain No 12844 Ahmedabad-Puri Express which left Ahmedabad on July 16 to run via Titlagarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Bhubaneswar, Khurda road
Train No. 13352 Alappuzha - Dhanbad (Bokaro) Express passing Vizag on Monday to run via Vizianagaram, Khurda Road, Angul, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda
Short-terminated
Train No.18437 Bhubaneswar-Junagarh Road Express short-terminated at Rayagada
18437/18438 Bhubaneswar-Junagarh Road Express not to run between Rayagada, Junagarh Road