Vehicular traffic between Telangana and Chhattisgarh faced a standstill on Saturday as the highway connecting the two states became flooded due to the swelling Godavari river. At Bhadrachalam, the Godavari River’s water level rose above the third danger mark, reaching 54.50 feet on Saturday morning, prompting authorities to issue a third warning to the residents. The river has been flowing at a dangerously high level, with water discharge of 14.92 lakh cusecs downstream, and continued inflows from upstream keeping the situation critical for the past two days.
With the highway submerged in water, authorities have suspended vehicular traffic between Telangana and Chhattisgarh, leading to inconvenience for commuters and transporters. The rising water level has caused panic among residents living in low-lying areas downstream of the Godavari River. However, Bhadradri Kothagudem district collector Priyanka Ala reassured the public, stating that there is no immediate need for panic as the district administration is well-prepared to handle the situation, even if the water level crosses 60 feet.
The district administration has experience in dealing with such scenarios, as last year, the situation was effectively tackled when the water level reached as high as 71.6 feet. To assist those affected, rehabilitation centers have been opened in nine mandals (blocks) by the district administration. The authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the residents and minimize the impact of the flooding.