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Godavari level receding, evacuation still on in AP

Water level of the Godavari river at the temple town of Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh was receding, providing a breather to the authorities engaged in relief operations even as the evacuation process in six flood-affected districts continued in full swing on Wednesday.

The water level, which was close to the danger level following heavy rains in the catchment areas of Pranhita in Maharashtra, had crossed 54.5 feet at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district but was slowly receding, official sources said in Hyderabad.

However, Godavari level at the Dowleshwaram barrage in East Godavari district had touched 19 feet on Wednesday afternoon, as against the third warning level of 17.75 feet. District collectors of East Godavari and West Godavari districts have been told to shift people from low-lying areas.

While people from seven villages in East Godavari district, inundated by flood waters, have already been moved to safer places, several island villages in Konaseema region of the district will be flooded if the Godavari's level at Dowleshwaram continues to rise, sources said.

People from nearly 100 villages spread over Khammam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Karimnagar, Adilabad and Warangal districts were being shifted to safer places. Two helicopters were pressed into service to evacuate stranded people from eight villages in Warangal district.

An Indian Air Force helicopter had been requisitioned to transport senior officials to flood-affected areas in Khammam where 18 launches were pressed into service to shift people from low-lying areas. State Excise Minister T Nageshwara Rao is camping at Bhadrachalam to oversee relief and rescue operations.

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