Andhra: Godavari recedes; Krishna strikes

Even as the water level in the Godavari is receding, the threat of fresh floods loomed over parts Andhra Pradesh as Krishna River was in spate.

The collectors of Krishna and Guntur districts were on alert and asked to evacuate people from low-lying areas, officials said.

Due to floods in Bheema, a tributary of Krishna River, over 5.5 lakh cusecs of water was being released from Nagarjunasagar Dam.

This is expected to increase water levels and inundate low-lying areas along the river.

So far, 108 people have lost their lives in the floods.

Visakhapatnam bore the brunt, accounting for 24 deaths, followed by Vizianagaram, East Godavari and Khammam districts, which lost 13 people each.

Eight persons were killed in Nizamabad, while Srikakulam, West Godavari and Karimnagar lost six lives each. Five people each have died in Krishna and Warangal districts.

Rain-related deaths were also reported from Guntur, Medak, Nalgonda and Adilabad districts, besides Hyderabad.

Though water levels in the worst affected East Godavari, West Godavari and Khammam districts had started receding, the relief camps in these districts were being continued and the collectors were keeping a close watch on the situation.

Over 31 lakh people, spread over 6,333 villages in 16 districts, were affected by the rains and floods while preliminary estimation of crop and property losses was put at Rs 112.31 crore. Nearly 6.50 lakh people were evacuated from low-lying areas so far and accommodated in 435 relief camps across the state.