Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts were facing flood threat with rain pounding the region for the third consecutive day.
The Nagavali and Vamasadhara rivers were in spate. Irrigation officials released 65,531 cusecs from the Gotta barrage. They also released 58,500 cusecs from the Narayanpur dam and the inflow was 24,000 cusecs at the Srikakulam old bridge. Srikakulam Collector K. Dhananjaya Reddy directed irrigation and revenue officials to work in tandem and inform people living in low-lying areas about the release of water.
The situation turned grim in Sithampet mandal with roads connecting several many tribal habitations, including Kusimi, getting damaged. Meanwhile, the Vizianagaram district administration was on high alert following heavy inflows into the Nagavali. Officials released more than 50,000 cusecs from the Thotapalli reservoir near Parvathipuram.
District Collector M. Hari Jawaharlal directed the officials to be watchful for the next three days.
Kakinada Staff Reporter adds: There was a considerable drop in the water level and discharge of flood water into the sea from Dowleswaram Barrage on Wednesday. Irrigation officials discharged 4.79 lakh cusecs into the Bay of Bengal.
Visakhapatnam Special Correspondent adds: Heavy rain may occur at isolated places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts on Thursday under the influence of depression over the Odisha coast and strong monsoon conditions, according to the IMD.