Hyderabad: Telangana is bracing for further flooding as the Godavari River’s water levels continue to rise due to persistent rains in its upper catchment areas and tributaries in Maharashtra.
Increased discharges from various river basin projects are contributing to the flood flow, with the river rising at most upstream points, including Nanded. The situation is expected to impact Telangana, compounding the difficulties faced by already affected areas.
Flood levels at Badrachalam are predicted to reach critical warning points within the next 24 hours, marking the second major flood event in the river within five weeks. In Mulugu district, water from the Godavari is overflowing National Highway 163 at Tekulagudem in Wajeedu mandal, leading to the suspension of vehicle operations on this route.
The Sriram Sagar project is seeing steady inflows from the river’s upper reaches, with 41 of its 42 gates opened to manage the floodwaters. The project has reached its gross storage capacity of 80 TMC, with inflows at 2.3 lakh cusecs by Tuesday evening, expected to increase further. The Sripada Yellampalli project is receiving over 4.78 lakh cusecs, with outflows around 5.3 lakh cusecs. At Lakshmi Barrage, inflows are at 35.19 lakh cusecs, while Sammakka Sagar’s flood levels have risen to 7.68 lakh cusecs due to contributions from the Pranahita and Indravati tributaries. Downstream tributaries such as Taliperu, Kinnerasani, and Sabari are also significantly adding to the flood flow.
The initial flooding in the Godavari was driven by contributions from the Pranahita and other downstream tributaries. This time, significant inflows from Maharashtra’s tributaries are increasing the risk of further flooding. Meanwhile, the Krishna River has seen a slight decrease in inflows, but overall discharges from joint projects of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh remain high, with outflows at 3.76 lakh cusecs at Jurala, 5.34 lakh cusecs at Srisailam, and 5.29 lakh cusecs at Nagarjuna Sagar.
Dire Situation in Khammam
In Khammam, many families in residential areas are still reeling from the aftermath of the recent heavy rains that led to unprecedented flood flows in the Munneru stream. Unofficial estimates suggest that around 17,000 families have been affected, with many displaced and struggling to recover. As floodwaters recede, residents are seen salvaging their damaged belongings and cleaning their homes, which have been left covered in debris and dirt.
Residents in Bokkalagadda, Moti Nagar, Venkatesh Nagar, Prakash Nagar, and Kalvoddu have been without drinking water and electricity for several days. Officials have yet to restore essential services in many areas. Uppi Sai of Bokkalagadda reported living in darkness with only candles providing light, and reliance on a single municipal water tanker for the entire area. M Kiran Kumar highlighted the lack of sanitation work, with only one JCB clearing debris and clogged drains. Residents have been unable to cook donated food due to the loss of utensils, and students have suffered the loss of textbooks, notebooks, and certificates.
In response, 525 trainee constables have joined relief efforts in Bokkalagadda and Dhamsalapuram Colony, with police personnel led by Commissioner Sunil Dutt working to remove mud and garbage from roads. BRS workers have also restored vehicular traffic on the Khammam-Bonakal road through community efforts.
