Police Alert Low-Lying Villages as Krishna River Swells

Rapid Summary

• Police issued an alert in downstream areas of Krishna River due to rising flood levels.
• Heavy inflows from upstream projects led irrigation authorities to release more than 5.5 lakh cusecs of water by opening all 70 crest gates at Prakasam Barrage on Thursday.
• Vehicular movement between Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana was temporarily halted due to streams like Kattaleru overflowing onto roads, resuming only after water receded later on Thursday.
• Villagers were advised against crossing submerged bridges and roads by police officials, including DCP K.M. Maheswara Raju.
• Krishna District officials, including Superintendent of police R. Gangadhar Rao and DSP T. Vidya Sri, coordinated with Revenue, Fire & other departments to prioritize evacuation measures in low-lying regions such as Avanigadda, Mopidevi, and Nagalanka mandals.
• Boats have been arranged for evacuation if floodwaters continue rising.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The recurring floods along the Krishna River underscore the critical need for improved disaster preparedness in low-lying areas prone to inundation during monsoon seasons or heavy upstream releases. While the quick response from police and revenue officials demonstrates commendable coordination among authorities for public safety, reliance on temporary measures like boats further highlights a lack of integrated infrastructure planning to mitigate such crises ahead of time. Moreover, traffic disruptions between AP and Telangana reveal vulnerabilities in road connectivity during natural calamities that could be addressed through elevated construction designs resistant to flooding. This incident reiterates the importance of continuous monitoring systems along major rivers coupled with awareness campaigns urging residents not to take risks when traversing submerged paths.

Read More: The Hindu