All the major rivulets in the eastern parts of Chittoor District are in spate, following the incessant rains that hit the region since Sunday morning.
The rain has badly affected the temple city of Tirupati, besides Srikalahasti, Puttur and Nagari towns. While Kalangi and Swarnamukhi rivers are overflowing, the smaller streams flooded the nearby habitations, thus throwing life out of gear. The continuous downpour hit the mandals of Puttur, Srikalahasti, Buchi Naidu Kandriga, Varadaiahpalem, Thottambedu, K.V.B. Puram, Narayanavanam, Pichatur and Satyavedu of eastern Chittoor hard.
The Araniar medium irrigation project built on River Aruna in Pichatur mandal received 1400 mcft of water, against its gross capacity of 1852 mcft. Water reached up to 83 metres on Monday morning, against its Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 85.648 metres. The tank is expected to be surplus by evening. Similarly, the Krishnapuram project in Karvetinagaram mandal received 199.39 metres against its capacity of 199 metres, with the inflow pegged at 1800 cusecs. The Swarnamukhi anicut system is receiving inflow at the rate of 37,850 cusecs.
Among the minor projects, Kalangi (KVB Puram) and Sadasivakona (Yerpedu) were up to the brim by reaching their full capacity level of 241 mcft and 152.38 mcft respectively this morning. All the projects are getting surplus inflows at a fast rate, triggering fear of lifting of gates. There is some cheer in the drought-prone western mandals also, as the Bahuda project (Nimmanapalli) and NTR Jalasayam (Chittoor) getting filled up to the full capacity of 390 mcft and 110 mcft respectively. The Pedderu project in the perennially-parched Thamballapalle mandal received 179 mcft of water against its installed capacity of 590 mcft.
Srikalahasti bore the brunt as Swarnamukhi river witnessed heavy inflow from its numerous streams. Devotees to the Srikalahastheeswara temple also faced hardship with water entering the precincts. Habitations alongside the streams remained cut off, while some villages were marooned in B.N. Kandriga and Varadaiahpalem mandals.
Several tanks breached and inundated nearby villages, leading to submergence of Tirupati - Railway Kodur highway, B.N. Kandriga - Santhavellore road and Yerpedu - Venkatagiri highway. Officials led by the Revenue Divisional Officer (Tirupati) V. Veerabrahmam rushed to Srikalahasti and Satyavedu constituencies to monitor the flood levels and also supervise the relief and rehabilitation measures.
