: People of Konaseema and the Agency mandals are in grip of fear with the flood level increasing in the river Godavari.
The district machinery is on high alert and monitoring the situation closely as there are chances of flash floods before Wednesday evening.
Irrigation officials issued second warning at Sir Arthur Cotton barrage at Dowleswaram at 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday and 14 lakh cusecs of water was released into the sea by lifting all the 175 crest gates at the barrage at 7 p.m. About 12,000 cusecs was being released to the central, eastern and western deltas. Superintending Engineer, Dowleswaram Irrigation Circle, Rambabu observed that there was no likelihood of issuing a third warning at the barrage as the water level was stable at 52.9 feet at Bhadrachalam.
In Konaseema, floodwaters partially inundated island villages in mandals like P. Gannavaram and Ainavilli and water was flowing above the causeway in Chakalipalem on the border between East and West Godavari districts.
Thogarapaya Lanka in Ainavilli mandal, Chintapalli Lanka, Veeravanipalem and Addankivari Palle were inundated. The Muktheswaram causeway was also flooded.
Amalapuram Revenue Divisional Officer Ganesh Kumar said all precautionary measures were being taken. He said more island villages might be inundated if the water level increases.
Eight boats had been kept ready at places like Pedapudi, Sakhineti Palli and Appana Palli to ferry people to safety.
Control rooms had been set up in all the mandals, he added.
The Agency mandals in the district were the worst-hit. Road connectivity between Chinturu and Bhadrachalam in Telangana was lost for 10 hours from the early hours of the day as the Godavari rose menacingly.
Traffic was restored between A.P. and Telangana only after water receded at about 6.30 p.m.
About 28 villages in four mandals were cut off from the rest of the world since Monday midnight. According to project officer (Rampachodavaram) KVN Chakradharababu, about 18 villages out of the 28 lost connectivity as Sabari, a tributary of the Godavari, was overflowing.
The officials reached all the 28 habitations in advance and appealed to the people to move to safe places. Police were also called to shift villagers forcibly if they refused to vacate their houses.
CM asks officials to get cracking
Vijayawada Special Correspondent reports:
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is on a tour in Russia, asked officials of the Krishna and the East and West Godavari districts to remain on high alert. Mr. Naidu enquired about the flood situation and asked officials to initiate steps to ensure public safety.
About 28 villages in four mandals were cut off since Monday night; eight boats kept ready
