Vijayawada: Indian Army engineers and medical teams from the 54 Infantry Division have collaborated with local authorities to successfully seal three breaches at the Budameru Rivulet, which led to flooding in Vijayawada last week.
Following instructions from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, efforts are underway to heighten the bunds as a precautionary measure. The Army utilized 16,000 sandbags, Hesco bastions, and locally made metal Gideon bags to address the situation. With Pulivagu in G Kondur Mandal experiencing high water levels, Naidu has urged officials to remain vigilant.
The State government has submitted a flood damage report to the Central government, requesting ₹6,880 crore in aid, as announced by the Chief Minister on Saturday night. Starting Monday, officials will begin assessing losses caused by the heavy rains and floods, while a fever survey will be conducted in the affected areas. According to the latest update, the toll from rain-related incidents in the State has reached 45, with 35 deaths reported in NTR district.
Following the repair of the Budameru Rivulet breaches, work is continuing to elevate the bunds. Andhra Pradesh Special Chief Secretary Sisodia noted that the breaches were unforeseen. As the water level in the Prakasam Barrage rose on Sunday, an alert was issued for low-lying areas along the Krishna River. By 10 pm, surplus water flow at the Prakasam Barrage had reached 468,720 cusecs, with an initial warning issued when levels crossed four lakh cusecs.
Increasing inflows have also caused Kolleru Lake in Eluru district to swell, prompting a high alert in nearby villages. The Eluru district administration is prepared for potential evacuations if necessary.
Chief Minister Naidu met with Governor S. Abdul Nazeer on Sunday to update him on the flood situation and the damage caused. Naidu discussed the government's relief and rehabilitation efforts, which the Governor acknowledged and praised.
Despite continued rainfall in Vijayawada since Saturday afternoon, relief operations have progressed with drones delivering food and medicines to submerged areas, while conventional distribution methods are used elsewhere. Minister for Water Resources Nimmala Rama Naidu remained on-site overnight on Saturday to oversee the bund elevation work at Budameru, inspecting the area by boat on Sunday. Additionally, Army medical teams have distributed 160 kg of medical supplies and assisted 118 civilians across various camps, with medical camps set up in critical areas such as Shanti Nagar and Ibrahimpatnam.