27 relief centres opened in Krishna district

Vijayawada: With flood fury continues the banks of river Krishna, the district administration has evacuated more than 12,000 people in the upstream and downstream of Prakasam barrage in the last two days and shifted them to 27 rehabilitation centres.

The floods inundated dozens of colonies, villages and habitations along the Krishna river forcing the people to evacuate their homes during the last two days. Prakasam barrage got 7.50 lakh cusecs of water on Friday and the inflow may increase to 8.50 lakh cusecs by Saturday. The flood waters are inundating crops in some mandals causing extensive loss to farmers in both upstream and downstream of Prakasam barrage.

By Friday evening, the district administration has set up 27 rehabilitation centres and shifted 12,000 people from low-lying areas. More people will be shifted as the inflows may increase from 7.50 lakh cusecs to 8.50 lakh cusecs by Saturday.

At Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium in Vijayawada, nearly 1,000 residents of Krishna Lanka, Ranigari thota, Taraka Rama Nagar, Fakeeru Gudem and Balaji Nagar were provided shelter at relief centre.

District Collector Md Imtiaz visited the IGMC Stadium and spoke to flood victims. The district administration in coordination with the VMC arranged food, milk and drinking water to displaced families. K Rajamma, an elderly woman said the flood water entered her home at Ranigari Thota. Most victims expressed satisfaction over the facilities arranged at the stadium. M Nagalingeswara Rao, Deputy Education Officer of VMC, was supervising the arrangements for flood victims.

He said nearly 1,000 people were taking shelter in IGMC stadium and added more people may come if the floodwaters level increases along the Karakatta in Krishna lanka on Saturday. The district administration in co-ordination with the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation is making arrangements to supply food and drinking water.

Similarly, residents of Pedalanka and Chinalanka of Guntur and Krishna districts near Ibrahimpatnam were shifted to rehabilitation centre arranged at truck terminal in Ibrahimpatnam. Mylavaram MLA Vasanta Krishna Prasad and Collector Md Imtiaz visited the rehabilitation camp at the truck terminal on Friday and enquired about the arrangements there.

Krishna Prasad, speaking on the occasion, said the floodwaters would increase to 8.5 lakh cusecs by Saturday and asked the people living in vulnerable areas to leave their homes and take shelter in rehabilitation camps arranged in the district.

Floodwaters inundated farmlands in some villages of Kanchikacharla, Chandarlapadu, Nandigama and Ibrahimpatnam mandals upstream of Prakasam barrage and Thotlavallur and Vuyyur mandals in downstream of barrage. The officials appealing to people living in low-lying areas of Krishna river to take shelter at the rehabilitation centres arranged by the district administration.

Two-wheelers allowed on Prakasam barrage Commissioner of Police Dwaraka Tirumala on Friday visited Prakasam barrage and inspected the traffic and flow of floodwaters. He instructed the police to keep a strict vigil and prevent passing of four-wheelers and auto-rikshaws.

He made it clear that only two-wheelers should be allowed on the Prakasam barrage, which connects Vijayawada city and Tadepalli. He instructed the police to check taking selfies near the walls of barrage as they may fell into gushing waters. He suggested the people to pass via Varadhi highway route and avoid travelling via Prakasam barrage till further orders issued.