As the outfall sluices at different places have failed to work, flood waters inundated several villages such as Pasarlapudi and Kothalanka in Mummidivaram mandal, Appalaramuni Lanka, Lock Thota, and Gondi in Sakhinetipalli mandal.
Though water is receding slowly, the woes of people living in Lanka villages are far from over.
However, the flood level in the Godavari is steadily receding.
Irrigation officials withdrew the third warning signal as the water level had come down to 16.30 feet at Sir Arthur Cotton barrage in Dowleswaram on Tuesday evening. About 17.03 lakh cusecs of water is being discharged into the sea. The water level may increase again due to heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Godavari. East Godavari district Collector Ms. Neetu Prasad said that 1.75 lakh people living in 75 villages of 20 mandals in the district had been affected by floods and preliminary loss was put at Rs.115 crore. She said that 1.72 lakh milk and water sachets had been distributed to people living in relief camps. More than 27 lakh food packets had also been distributed. In all, 27,000 people had been shifted to relief camps. She added that the district machinery was making all efforts to ensure safety of people as well as cattle.
Tuesday was the 15th day for most of the villages in Konaseema to be logged in flood waters. Venomous snakes are entering the villages. It has become difficult for farmers to graze their cattle.
Amalapuram RDO Sampath Kumar said revenue officials were evacuating the people as well as transporting relief material in trying circumstances. He said sanitation would be a priority once water receded.
Meanwhile, Rampachodavaram Sub-Collector Gandham Chandrudu directed officials to focus on sanitation in the flood-affected villages in Devipatnam mandal. He said bleaching powder was being sprayed in all the affected villages to prevent outbreak of communicable diseases. He said 20 kg of rice, five litres of kerosene, and vegetables were being supplied.
