The flood level in River Godavari rose due to heavy rains in the catchment areas, leading to large-scale evacuations of people from many villages of Velerupadu and Kukkunuru mandals of Eluru district on Monday. Many affected people were leaving the villages voluntarily while the officials made arrangements for their temporary stay in relief camps. Officials said the people of 15 villages in these two mandals were affected by the floods.
In East Godavari, the islet villages were submerged in the flood waters. Revenue and police officials shifted flood victims to safer places under the supervision of the Eluru collector Vetri Selvi and SP, Pratap Kishore. Many of the affected people moved to safer places by tractors and autos, carrying with them their utensils.
Those in camps were troubled by mosquito menace. Housing minister Parthasaradhi said more than 6,000 flood victims -- including 2,000 from kukkunuru mandal and 4,000 from Velerupadu mandal – were shifted to 12 relief camps. Some 15,000 tonnes of vegetables would be distributed to them.
Meanwhile, many paddy fields in erstwhile East and West Godavari districts were submerged, giving these areas the look of lakes. Farmers said they recently completed the transplantations by investing Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 per acre. All these have perished in the floods.
The horticulture and vegetable crops were also badly damaged. In Konaseema district, banana plantations were largely affected in the islet fields. The plants mostly fell.