The flood situation in the agency areas under Bhadrachalam and Palvancha divisions turned precarious as the flood level in the river reached 59.2 feet, over six feet above the third flood warning level (danger mark), in the temple town on Friday afternoon.
Over 130 villages were affected by flash floods. According to flood forecast issued by the Central Water Commission, the water level is expected to go up to 61 feet by 9 pm and then likely to recede.
Following the discharge of huge volume of floodwater from the projects in the upstream owing to heavy downpour in the catchment areas, the water level in Godavari has shot up to 59.2 feet, the highest in this rainy season, on Friday afternoon. It rapidly surpassed the three flood warning levels in a span of last 24 hours.
According to official sources, as many as 36 villages were marooned and a total of 643 people were moved to the relief camps in eight mandals. Power supply to a total of 539 villages was snapped in the morning after the flood level shot up drastically.
A youth was feared washed away in a swollen stream at Veerapuram in Charla mandal. Veerapuram, Kothapalli, Gompelli and Lingapuram villages in Charla mandal were surrounded by floodwater, prompting the officials to shift the stranded villagers to safer areas.
The road link between Chinturu and V R Puram, Wajedu and Venkatapuram, Kunavaram-V R Puram, Bhadrachalam and Charla besides other flood-hit areas was paralysed as the flood waters swamped low-level culverts and causeways at 41 stretches on the main roads in Bhadrachalam division.
Several houses in the low-lying areas like Kotha Colony and Subashnagar in Bhadrachalam town were surrounded by floodwater, which seeped in due to alleged leakages in the sluice gates of the flood bank.
A large pool of water was formed at the Vista Complex and other areas adjoining the renowned Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy shrine. The bathing ghats were already submerged in flood waters on the banks the Godavari.
