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Unprecedented heavy rains which began on Saturday due to low pressure in Bay of Bengal intensified on Sunday caused heavy floods in Vijayawada.
The region recorded heavy rainfall of 27 cms in one day and 45 cms in 2 days over the past 50 years.
The Govt of AP is taking all rescue measures in the flood affected areas to supply drinking water, food and medicines to the people. The Hon'ble Chief Minister Sri N Chandrababu Naidu is directly monitoring the rescue measures and visiting the flood affected areas even in the night times to instill confidence in the affected people.
The HCM has spoken to Hon'ble Prime Minister and other Central Ministers to provide financial assistance as well as helicopters, NDRF to speed up rescue operations.
It is also observed that the previous Govt has done a lot of illegal mining which has weakened the river bunds of Budameru river resulting in breaches and erupted floods. Budameru is a large stream born in the hills of Mylavaram. But since many years in history it is considered as a river. It has water at some level throughout the year. Budameru is one of the most important tributaries to Kolleru, the largest fresh water lake spread between the Krishna and Godavari basins.
10,000 to 11,000 cusecs of water flows annually in Budameru, which flows at a distance of 170 km from the birth area. But it is said that 75 thousand cusecs of water flowed in Budameru at the same time due to the rains in 2005. That's when Vijayawada was damaged a lot. After that, in 2009, such a situation once again occurred. Budameru Vagu takes many twists and turns in its journey. Due to this, when there is a high flow, it would cross the embankment and reach the surrounding areas.
Two decades of neglect - Vijayawada destruction
After witnessing the massive floods in 2005, the Irrigation Department suggested constructing a retaining wall along the Budameru River. Some work was done on this at that time but later it was completely put aside. The water from Budameru is divided into two parts, one directly reaches Kolleru and the other joins the Krishna. The part where it meets the Krishna joins the canal from Polavaram in the middle. In the middle of the river going to Kolleru it joins the Eluru Canal which flows between Krishna and Vijayawada city.
Land encroachment and real estate affairs have increased tremendously in these two decades in the area where Budameru flows. As land is available at low rates in these areas, poor middle class people bought and built houses. There are allegations that even the officials have been deceived as the vote bank politicians stood by them. It encroached most of the riverbed of Budameru. Now due to heavy rains, the flood water from above submerged those encroachments. With it, Bejwada faces unprecedented destruction. These floods have revealed a great danger to the government's plans to build a new capital of AP as a cosmopolitan city combining Guntur and Amaravati Vijayawada.
Environment experts say that the danger of Budameru and Bejwada will be removed only if the government sincerely builds a retaining wall for Budameru with the instructions of the Irrigation Department and removes the encroachments in the river basin.
At Prakasam Barrage, Vijayawada, Krishnamma became furious. The police stopped traffic on the bridge as the flood receded. Due to this there was congestion with people and vehicles. The second hazard warning is still in effect. While 11.40 lakh cusecs of water is being released from the barrage, 500 cusecs is being released to the canals. Officials are opening all 70 gates and releasing water into the sea. The water level at the barrage continues to be 24.4 feet. However, it seems that this is the second biggest flood flow in a hundred years. Officials say that there was a flood of 10,94,422 cusecs on October 5, 2009. After that again it is said that Krishnamma was flooded at that level. Meanwhile, while the flood was overflowing on the main road of Nandigama in NTR district, the traffic stopped.
Boats hit the barrage gates
3 boats hit the barrage gates by the rise of Krishnamma. 3 boats washed away by the flood from the upper areas hit the gates 3 and 4 of the barrage. As these became a barrier to the water being released from the gates, the water stopped. A pillar in the barrage was partially damaged when the boats collided at a speed of about 40 km. The gate lift area was damaged and the authorities are preparing to repair it.
Meanwhile, the boat that was being brought to the resettlement camp in Thotavalluru mandal of Krishna district was lost due to the rising flood. The accident took place while the victims were being evacuated from Annavarapulanka. There were 8 people in the boat at the time of the accident. The locals saved the 6 who were lost. Rescue teams are searching for two others
On the other hand, there is a technical problem at the gates of the Srisailam project. Burned brake coils in 2nd and 3rd gate panel. The incident took place when the height of the gates was increased to let the water down due to the rise of flood. Officials are trying to restore the brake coils.
Buffaloes washed away by the rising flood
The nearby Lanka villages were submerged when the Krishna river flooded. About 300 milch buffaloes were washed away in the flood in Rayapudi's Pedalanka. About 300 villagers have been moved to Ibrahimpatnam Rehabilitation Center of NTR district. While the victims climbed onto the houses and waited for help, the authorities took steps to evacuate them by helicopters. Also, flood water is leaking at the gate of Karakatta near Mantena Satyanarayana Ashram due to rising flood. Local leaders and officials worked hard on Sunday to stop the leakage, but the leakage started again. On Monday morning, the CRDA officials inspected the leakage area. On the other hand, Harishchandrapuram village of Tulluru mandal is completely waterlogged. Crop fields and houses were submerged in water.
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