Floods recede in Vamsadhara, Nagavali rivers

Srikakulam: The flood water in Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers in the district, which were in spate, are started receding. The inflow and outflow at Gotta barrage in Vamsadhara river is 82,183 cusecs and at Thotapalli reservoir in Nagavali river, the inflow is 18,037 cusecs and outflow is 16,648 cusecs on Thursday evening.

Inflows reached to 1,11, 210 cusecs at Gotta barrage and 50,122 cusecs at Thotapalli reservoir on Wednesday night. The flood situation improved a little bit with flood water levels receding in Nagavali river as against Vamsadhara river.

No village affected by flood due to Nagavali river as it did not cross 60,000 cusecs. If the river crossed 60,000 cusecs of flood water, nearly 43 villages are expected to affect. With this the residents heaved a sigh of relief.

The situation is worst at Vamsadhara adjacent areas in Bhamini, Kotturu, Hiramandal, L N Peta, Jalumuru, Amudalavalasa, Narasannapeta, Srikakulam rural and Gara mandals in the district.

Moderate rainfall recorded in catchment areas of Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers in Odisha from Wednesday to Thursday evening. In Srikakulam also, the total rainfall recorded till Thursday evening from Wednesday evening is 1,129 mm and average rainfall is 29.7mm.

Vamsadhara floodwaters submerged Singidi, Kosali, Kesara, Penugotivada, Mathala, Nivagam, Anguru, Somarajapuram, Vasapa, Sirusuvada, Kuntibhadhra, Bhamini and Kotturu villages. Residents of these villages are unhappy over poor relief measures as they are yet to receive safe water, food and medicines from the government.

"We did not receive any essential goods, no leader from ruling YSRCP visited our areas and officials also neglected us to provide essentials," P Subba Rao of Penugotivada, A Papa Rao of Vasapa villages toldThe Hans India.

Although the four relief camps arranged in Kotturu mandal, no one shifted here and no food arrangements were made here. One person, Dantha Amma Rao of Gara mandal centre was reportedly missing in Vamsadhara floodwaters and search operations are going on to trace him, stated YSRCP Srikakulam MLA Dharmana Prasada Rao, who visited Gara and consoled family members of Amma Rao. District Collector J Nivas said that as flood waters started receding, the officials would take relief operations.

"Paddy nurseries are inundated in 78 villages in ten mandals in an extent of 7,620 hectares due to Vamsadhara floods," joint director for agriculture K Ch Appala Swamy told this newspaper.

The sea water level rises 30 feet into land at Kalingapatnam beach due to low-pressure and following seashore erosion. Two elephants, two giraffes and a Buddha idol were washed away in floods. Tourism department arranged these idols here to attract tourists.