Godavari nears first warning level at Bhadrachalam after rising inflows

The Godavari river was nearing its first warning level at Bhadrachalam on Sunday evening after rising water levels were fuelled by inflows from tributaries, particularly the Taliperu. The river stood at 42.80 feet at 8 p.m., close to the first warning mark of 43 feet, with a discharge of 9.22 lakh cusecs, according to sources cited in the report. The level had risen from 36.60 feet at 1 a.m.

Water levels were expected to remain stable for the next few hours as rainfall eased across most upper reaches of the river, the sources said. The report did not indicate that the first warning mark had been crossed. The Taliperu reservoir in Charla mandal continued to receive significant inflows from catchment areas in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

Six spillway gates at the Taliperu medium irrigation project were opened earlier in the day, releasing floodwaters downstream into the Godavari. The recent rain also affected agriculture in the Bhadrachalam Agency. Paddy nurseries belonging to farmers in Kashinagaram, Pragallapalli and other villages in Dummugudem mandal were reportedly damaged after heavy rain over three days.

Water stagnation was reported in several paddy fields, leaving some farmers distressed. At the same time, the rain brought relief to farmers elsewhere in the district after a prolonged dry spell. The source material does not report evacuations, casualties or damage to major infrastructure linked to the rising river.