Godavari in spate, several villages submerged

Hyderabad, Sept 21: Due to heavy inflows from upstream Khammam, the Godavari is in spate. Several villages in the two Godavari districts submerged in the flood waters. Several streams, rivulets and tanks in the East and West Godavari districts were overflowing following rain lashing the upstream areas for four continuous days. Officials were forced to open 175 gates at Dowleswaram barrage with the water level touching 9.3 feet by Monday morning. At Dowleswaram, flood water inflow was 7.42 lakh and outflow was 7.38 lakh cusecs. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Genco had to let out 6,000 cusecs of flood water from Sabari at Donakarai. They even stopped generation of power there. East Godavari district officials are said to have sounded the first-level warning in downstream villages in Konaseema. Even as East Godavari collector H. Arun Kumar appealed to the people to remain alert the swollen Godavari entered villages in Korukonda mandal. Officials visited the villages and evacuated people from several low-lying areas, reports said.