The city was gripped by fear and tension as the flood level at Prakasam Barrage showed a continuous rise on Monday, inundating more colonies and localities.
The localities in Krishnalanka, Ramalingeswara Nagar, Bhavanipuram and Ranigarithota were inundated by the floodwaters by Monday morning. Water supply was badly hit in many areas, as three of the five filtration plants were submerged in floodwaters. Only two plants – 5 MGD and 16 MGD plants – functioned till evening.
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials embanked the Ramalingeswra Nagar and 8-MGD plants with sand bags with a view to putting them into functioning. Water supply was restored to areas like J. D. Nagar, P&T Colony, Srinivasa Nagar, Bank Colony, Veterinary Colony, LIC Colony, and Ashok Nagar by 8 p.m.
The officials advised voluntary organisations not to distribute food and eatables directly to the flood victims in view of the food poisoning reported from Bhavanipuram on Sunday night. Instead, the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could contact the control room set up in the VMC office in case they intended to help the people in distress.
Panchayat Raj Minister Botcha Satyanarayana asserted that there was no problem at the Dr. Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS). All the units were functioning normally. There was no disruption in power supply, and the generation too would continue, he said.
Special Officer Rajiv Sarma, Krishna District Collector Peeyush Kumar and others said there was no need to get panicky as the situation was under control. The administration was geared up to meet the flood discharge, they said, adding that the floodwaters at the barrage had actually stabilised.
Police Commissioner K. V. Rajendranath Reddy said that the traffic bound for or coming from Hyderabad, Chennai and other places was diverted following inundation of the National Highway at Mulapdu, Jupudi and other villages.
The traffic coming from or going to Hyderabad should take Guntur- Vadapalli- Miryalaguda route to reach Hyderabad or vice-versa (to reach Vijayawada). Similarly, the traffic bound for Chennai could take Ongole-Narkatpalli-Chennai route. The traffic coming from Kolkatta was also diverted and these vehicles should take Jangareddigudem-Aswaraopeta-Khammam-Hyderabad route.
The officials stated that the total number of relief camps in operation in the city was 28. While the number of people shifted to the camps was 12,180, the number of people moved to safer places was 33,131. Boats and lorries were kept ready in villages for rescue operations, they said.
