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Flood alert in Andhra Pradesh as Godavari rises steeply

The water level at the Bhadrachalam upstream of the Godavari river rose steeply to 31.8 feet from 25.7 feet during the last 24 hours.

Official sources said 50,000 cusecs of water from the Sriramapada Sagar reservoir was released into the river following the rise in the water level at two of its tributaries at Perur (9.89 m) and Kunavaram (12.6 ft).

About 350,000 cusecs have been released from the Dhowleswaram barrage across the Godavari to maintain the water level.

Andhra Pradesh Relief Commissioner B P Acharya has directed officials of the affected area to take all precautionary measures as the water level in the Godavari was likely to increase following heavy rains in the upper catchment areas of the river in Maharashtra.

In an official release in Rajahmundry, he said the Central Water Commission forecast that the river might reach the first warning level at Kaleswaram by Wednesday evening and cross the first warning level of 43 feet at Bhadrachalam by September 17 evening.

The collectors of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, East and West Godavari and Warangal districts have been directed to monitor the level and alert the people living in the low-lying areas to move them to safer places.

UNI

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