Bhadrachalam faces a serious situation due to heavy rains causing the Godavari River to swell. The water level, fed by the Sri Ram Sagar Project, Indravati, and Pranahita rivers, reached 51.9 feet by 9 PM on Thursday, triggering a second-level flood warning.
Officials reported an inflow of 13.66 lakh cusecs at 9 PM, with the river level stabilizing since then. The water rose steadily throughout Thursday, from 48.6 feet at midnight to 51.9 feet in the afternoon.
This month, the river exceeded the first flood warning level of 43 feet 31 times, a record since 1953. Authorities remain vigilant, closely monitoring the situation. The Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram received over 10 lakh cusecs on Thursday morning, according to an official. APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain noted the rising water levels.
Jain stated that the Godavari’s flood intensity is escalating, with 10.03 lakh cusecs of inflow and outflow at Dowleswaram. The first-level warning is in effect, alerting districts like Alluri Sitaramaraju, East Godavari, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, Kakinada, Eluru, and West Godavari.
In Telangana, the Godavari River level at Bhadrachalam reached 50.08 feet, prompting warnings for nearby residents.
Floodwaters have breached the national highway near Rayannapeta in Yetapaka mandal on the Telangana-Andhra Pradesh border, halting traffic. Key routes like the Bhadrachalam-Chinturu highway at Turubaka and Gangolu, and the Parnasala road are impassable.
Villages such as Sunnambatti and Bairagula Padu have been isolated for two days. Roads near Sarapaka and Reddypalem in Burgampahad mandal are submerged, affecting connectivity.
Due to river restrictions, pilgrims are performing ancestral rituals on the submerged steps of the Bhadrachalam bathing ghats. Only one person at a time may enter the water, assisted by trained swimmers. The Kalyanakatta and other facilities near the Bhadrachalam Sri Sitarama Temple are underwater.
Police and rescue teams are deployed in flood-prone areas to prevent accidents. Bhadrachalam MLA Dr. Tellam Venkata Rao and Sub-Collector Mrinal Shreshta visited affected areas to assess conditions. They took a traditional boat to visit Sunnambatti village, accompanied by Market Committee Chairperson Tellam Seetamma, to meet with residents. Locals expressed concerns about annual flooding, and the MLA promised quick relocation and relief measures.
