Water level of Godavari steady at Dowleswaram

The Godavari river water level at Dowleswaram barrage in East Godavari district was steady this morning even as the ghats of the river remained submerged, official sources said on Monday.

The water level at Dowleswaram barrage was steady at 17.2 feet while it was receding at Bhadrachalam. If it reaches 17.75 full tank level (FTL) then only the third (flood) alert will be issued, Dowleswaram superintendent engineer (irrigation circle) D Kasi Visveswara Rao said.

The irrigation officials are monitoring the water level situation at Dowleswaram barrage and taking all precautions, he said adding that preparations have been made in case people need to be evacuated from low-lying areas to relief camps. Andhra Pradesh government has already set up about 100 relief camps across the state and air-dropped food packets to people affected by heavy rains and floods even as the situation in East and West Godavari districts remained grim.

East Godavari district collector Neetu Kumari Prasad along with irrigation, revenue, and police officials has been visiting the flood-hit areas and relief camps and enquiring about the health of the flood-affected people. Medical teams were also visiting relief camps and supplying medicines as precautionary measure to prevent diseases. Around 3,016 people from 14 mandals in the West Godavari district and 1,300 from the East Godavari district have been shifted to relief camps so far, official sources said.

The control room at the district headquarters (Kakinada) and other areas were collecting information of flood situation, an official said. People living in the Lanka Islands in the district were shifted to safer places with the help of boats. The collector appealed voluntary organisations to extend help in shift people to safer places and other assistance.