Flood, again: Parts of Vijayawada drown after Prakasam opens 70 gates

VIJAYAWADA: The state disaster management authority issued a high alert as low-lying areas in the city were inundated after heavy rain and rising water levels in the Prakasam barrage. Areas like Ranigari Thota and Kanakadurga Vaaradhi are virtually submerged by the water released from the barrage.
On Wednesday, there was inflow of 2.5 lakh cusec at Prakasam barrage, which might lead to the second big flood in a month.Maximum water level is being maintained at Prakasam and yet, around 70 gates of the project had to be lifted by six feet on Wednesday.

With incessant rains in Krishna’s catchment area, water level at various irrigation projects on the river touched full reservoir level (FRL). While Srisailam project starting overflowing on Tuesday, around 3.5 lakh cusec of water was released from Nagarjunasagar on Wednesday. The Sagar project is maintaining a flood cushion of 2 TMC.
VMC’s health wing has started a flood helpline and officials requested residents of Ramarajya Nagar, Ramalingeswarapeta and other areas near the river bund to take shelter at VMC schools.
Around 800 people have taken shelter at the flood camp at Darsipeta high school. Some locals, however, were not ready to move flood camps and alleged that the VMC is not giving proper information about the flood.
“We were asked to vacate our houses last night. But we stayed back on the river bund to take care of our belongings. Flood situation is not too intense at the time,”said K Surya Lakshmi, a resident of Rangiri Thota Katta.
VMC is making arrangements for around 5,000 families at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium keeping in view that water level may rise to 4 lakh cusec at Prakasam Barrage.
In the district, residents of low-lying areas upstream of the barrage have been alerted and many in Ibrahimpatnam have been asked to vacate their houses. By Thursday morning, water levels may touch 3.5 lakh cusec at Prakasam. Officials have set up special shelters for flood victims at government schools in Ibrahimpatnam. Residents of island villages were asked not to venture into the river. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed at Pamula Lanka and Avanigadda areas.
Irrigation authorities said that the flood situation may grow graver in coming two days considering the trends at Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala projects.
Collector Mohammed Imtiaz took stock of the situation and spoke to different departments and with tahsildars of 17 mandals so that flood victims may get all facilities.