The mighty Godavari River surged past the second warning level at Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Tuesday, raising fresh concerns for flood-prone areas along its banks. By 3:30 am, the water level had breached the 48-foot mark and continued to climb, reaching 48.8 feet by 8 am with a massive discharge of 11.82 lakh cusecs. District Collector Jitesh V. Patil, while updating the situation, cautioned residents of flood-hit and low-lying villages to remain vigilant as inflows from upper catchment areas are expected to rise further due to relentless rains.

Authorities have already swung into action to mitigate the situation, setting up relief measures and keeping additional shelters on standby to accommodate displaced families if necessary. Essential departments — including revenue, police, health, municipal, electricity, and panchayat raj — are actively monitoring vulnerable areas to ensure uninterrupted supply of food, drinking water, medical care, and power. Collector Patil issued strict instructions against bathing in the swollen river or undertaking any boat rides, stressing that public safety must remain the top priority until the situation stabilizes.

The rising waters have already begun to affect transportation, cutting off access to several interior villages across flood-hit mandals. At the Taliperu medium irrigation project in Cherla mandal, three gates were lifted to release 3,905 cusecs of excess water downstream, adding to the heavy flow into the Godavari. Control rooms have been activated across the district, with dedicated helpline numbers released for emergencies, including the sub-collector’s office (08743-232444) and district collector’s office (08744-241950). With more rains forecast, officials remain on round-the-clock alert to manage the crisis and provide timely assistance to affected communities.