The Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram in East Godavari district recorded floodwater inflows and outflows of 7.38 lakh cusecs, driven by heavy rainfall across Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) Managing Director Prakhar Jain reported rising water levels in both the Godavari and Krishna rivers, with the Godavari reaching 42.2 feet at Bhadrachalam, Telangana.

The barrage, at full capacity of 2.93 TMC ft, is releasing water downstream to manage the deluge, with 2,000 cusecs diverted to Godavari Delta canals. The first-level flood warning remains in effect at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada, where inflows and outflows hit 4.92 lakh cusecs. APSDMA has alerted district administrations in flood-prone areas, sanctioning Rs 16 crore for evacuation efforts and deploying State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams.

Jain urged residents to avoid crossing swollen canals and streams, with evacuation preparations underway for island villages like Thanelanka and Appanapalli in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district if inflows reach 10 lakh cusecs. Posts on X from @APSDMA confirmed the barrage’s inflows and emphasized SDRF readiness.

The situation, fueled by a Bay of Bengal depression, has strained reservoirs, with Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar nearing full capacity. Authorities are closely monitoring to prevent flooding in low-lying areas, with the Hindu reporting controlled releases to minimize risks.

Also Read: Massive Flood Threat Looms Over Vijayawada

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