While the sun has come out on Thursday providing a break from four days of heavy rains, numerous roads and low-lying areas, particularly in towns, remain waterlogged in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. Officials are making all efforts to drain out rainwater mixed with sewage using pump sets.
In Tanuku of West Godavari district, water from Gostani Canal is continuing to overflow on the road, making it difficult for commuters to travel. District Collector C. Nagarani inspected the affected stretch and instructed municipal officials to monitor the situation continuously and take precautionary measures.
With more rainfall expected in the coming days, Nagarani asked officials to keep a constant watch on Gostani canal’s overflow and the extent of flooding on the road. She asked officials to submit regular reports to higher authorities on ground conditions and measures being taken.
Officials have begun de-silting the Kunavaram-Gachikayalapora drain. During his visit to the area in Katrenikona mandal following Cyclone Arnab, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu had been approached by residents, who sought de-silting of the drain from Kunavaram to Gachikayalapora.
Responding to their request, the CM directed Konaseema district collector R. Mahesh Kumar to begin the work immediately. However, the subsequent rains due to Cyclone Murasu have worsened the situation.
Mahesh Kumar said 2.6 km of the 10.235-km Kunavaram-Gachikayalapora drain has been cleared, apart from 600 metres near the outlet at Moga. The clearing of drain is to ensure free flow of water through the drain and reduce the risk of flooding in surrounding villages in case there are heavy rains again.
Following heavy rainfall in upstream areas, including Khammam and Bhadrachalam, floodwaters are continuing to flow into the Sri Karatham Krishnamurthy Yerrakalva Reservoir at Konguvarigudem in Jangareddygudem mandal. Irrigation officials have released 20,000 cusecs of water downstream.
The reservoir has a total storage capacity of 4.426 TMC, while its current storage is nearly 3.8 TMC. Officials said release of water is essential to manage the reservoir’s storage levels amid continuing inflows from upstream areas.
East Godavari district collector Keerthi Chekuri has asked residents in Yerrakalva catchment area to remain vigilant, avoid approaching streams and flood-prone areas, and follow instructions issued by the authorities. She has asked people of Nidadavolu, Tyajampudi, Tadepalligudem and other villages along the Yerrakalva basin to remain vigilant. She advised farmers in low-lying areas to take precautionary measures, as their agricultural fields could be submerged.
In Kakinada, rainwater remains stagnant on Government Hospital Road, Shantinagar, Sambamurthy Nagar, ZP Centre, and other locations. Municipal commissioner N.V.V. Satyanarayana said efforts are underway to drain out the water and improve sanitation.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
