Vijayawada, October 06: The biggest flood in over one hundred years hit the dam on the river Krishna Prakasam threatening several towns downstream, including as
people of the city of Vijayawada clung to a faint hope on Monday.
The death toll in heavy rains and devastating floods in the state rose to 52. Krishna was angry as a record of 11.03 lakh PCPs flood water reached Prakasam barrage. However, there was no threat to human lives as 2.5 lakh people of Krishna and Guntur districts have already been moved to relief camps.
The situation in the villages Lanka – the peoples of the island where Krishna meets the Bay of Bengal – yet it was dark as more than 50,000 people were trapped in the floods. Many colonies along the left bank of river Krishna in Vijayawada city submerged as the water level 6 feet touched the night. “The situation will remain grim until Wednesday as the discharge of floods in the Prakasam barrage will remain around 11 Lakh PCPs,” said one official.
With nearly 11 lakh water PCPs in the cascade of swollen Krishna Prakasam from the barrage, there was concern about banks’ ability to withstand flooding severe blows to the river eddy. However, engineers have assured the public that the flood banks were designed to have 11 lakh water PCPs that have been reinforced and the weaknesses of the flood banks. This is the worst flooding in more than 106 years as was the previous record of 10.30 Lakh PCPs in 1903, the irrigation authorities said.
The water level hit 21.9 feet, as all 72 gates were lifted to let out water execess. The discharge of Nagarjunasagar is expected to remain constant (10.17 lakh PCPs) for at least the next 24 hours and Prakasam barrage output will be around 10.87 lakh PCPs. With the retreat of the floods in Kurnool and Mahbubnagar, management of water in Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Prakasam barrage is being made jointly to minimize further losses, irrigation officials said.
Almatti doors are closed and the entries in Srisailam fell to 5.38 Lakh PCPs while the outflow was 10 PCPs LAKH Monday. In view of the improved situation, the engineers have decided to lower the level of the doors and close the emergency door.
Rosaiah K Chief Minister said a review of damage to the house of Srisailam right bank of 770 MW power generation capacity being assessed. “Once the floods recede completely, a team of experts was formed to examine the damage to the irrigation projects could have been due to heavy flooding,” he said.
Rosaiah CM has urged the Center considered a national calamity and provide Rs 6,000 million rupees for relief work. In a letter to PM Manmohan Singh, said Rosaiah flood damage was to the tune of Rs 12.225 million rupees. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi conducted an aerial survery flood ravaged areas.
Of 52 deaths, Kurnool district accounted for 28 deaths, 17 died in Mahbubnagar, Krishna and Nalgonda reported three each and Guntur one. The Pulichintala project under construction on the Krishna was completely submerged. According to sources, 719 minor irrigation tanks were damaged importance.
–Agencies