The district and civic administrations have been geared up for the impending flood in the Krishna river. With the increase of inflows into the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir, already to the brim, the dam authorities are forced to increase releases downstream.
Record flood
The river witnessed a record flood of 10.61 lakh cusecs in October 2009.
Irrigation authorities are saying the flood will cross the 5 lakh mark this year also.
District Collector S.A.M. Rizvi said that 3.9 lakh cusecs that had been released from Nagarjuna Sagar Project on Wednesday night would reach Prakasam Barrage on Thursday night.
About 5,000 families living in low-lying areas along the banks of the river had to be evacuated. Addressing a meeting of officials from different departments the Collector said that there was a chance of the inflow to the Prakasam Barrage tail pond crossing the 4-lakh cusec mark. He said many of the families living in the low-lying areas were moving to relief camps, but the officials should make sure that all the families living in the low-lying areas be evacuated.
He said arrangements have been made to serve breakfast and two meals to the people in the relief camps.
He assigned the duty of catering to the special needs of mothers and children to the Women and Child Welfare department.
He said care was being taken to ensure that there was no disruption in water and power supply.
Boats and expert swimmers were being kept ready at points where they were required, he said.
Sand bags
Sand bags have also been prepared on a large-scale to strengthen the floodbanks at vulnerable points both upstream and downstream the barrage. Municipal Commissioner G. Ravi Babu urged the people living in low lying areas to move to safer places or to rehabilitation centres opened by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) here.
Mr. Ravi Babu visited Krishnalanka, Ranigarithota, Ranadive Nagar and other areas here in view of flood water being discharged from the Prakasam Barrage. On the occasion, he said that the people should be vigilant in view of heavy releases from the barrage, and cooperate with the officials. The commissioner asked the officials to make markings of water levels, and provide necessary infrastructure at the rehabilitation centres. Likewise, necessary transportation etc., should be provided to shift the people living in vulnerable areas. The NDRF teams should keep the boats ready to rescue the people, he added.
SE Venkateswara Rao, EE J.V. Ramakrishna AMOH Z. Srinviasa Rao, DFO Prasada Rao, and AC Nagakumari were present.
Colony inundated
Ferry Pushkarnagar Colony in Ibrahimpatnam near here was evacuated when Krishna water entered houses at around 10 p.m. The flood in the river touched 2.77 lakh cusecs at 10 p.m., according to Irrigation Department sources.
The river water entered 30 houses. Another 30 houses would also be inundated in the night, irrigation officials said.
