No flood scare in Vijayawada, but many areas under water

Vijayawada: Water level has started receding in Krishna river at Pulichintala Project on Thursday evening, bringing relief to the district administration. Flood warning was also withdrawn in the upstream areas of Prakasam barrage . However, low-lying areas in the city still remained inundated and on Thursday as well, around 2.6 lakh cusec of water was released from Prakasam barrage.

District collector Mohammed Imtiaz said that the water level at the barrage is likely to come down to 30,000 cusec by Friday morning. “We were fearing that it would reach 4 lakh cusec this time. However, preparedness of irrigation authorities has helped us. Flood cushion helped regulate the outflows at Prakasam barrage. We have asked officials of 17 flood-affected mandals to be alert and continue relief camps till flood recedes completely,” he said.

While VMC authorities and Yenamalakuduru village panchayat have arranged for relief camps, residents of areas like Bhupesh Gupta Nagar have refused to come to shelters. “There is no clarity on the present situation of flood. Officials are not giving proper information. There is a chance of theft at our houses if we move to relief camps,” said K Lakshmana Rao, a resident of Ranigari Thota. Meanwhile, civic body is using motors to help the inundated areas.

Sanitation wing of the VMC is to conduct a special drive in flood-affected areas on Friday after flood recedes. Commissionner Prasanna Venkatesh asked the health wing to take up speical anti-mosquito drive in flood-affected areas.