Heavy rainfall over the upper catchment areas has sent the Godavari river surging at Bhadrachalam in Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district, with the water level rising from around 17 feet to more than 40 feet within about two days. The rapid rise has submerged several steps of the ghats at the pilgrim town, and authorities are closely monitoring the river as it approaches the first official flood-warning level of 43 feet, saying they are prepared to issue that warning as soon as the threshold is crossed. The surge is being driven by heavy inflows from upstream areas as the region continues to experience an intense spell of rain.
Downstream in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the Sabri river has begun to recede even as the Godavari continues to rise, and district authorities have alerted residents of at least 160 villages about the elevated water levels. As a precaution, 134 pregnant women requiring antenatal care have been shifted out of low-lying areas to nearby hospitals, and 105 relief centres have been opened to accommodate people who may need to evacuate. Officials in both states are coordinating on flood management given that the Godavari basin spans the two states, and disaster response teams have been placed on standby in the affected districts.
Telangana’s irrigation and revenue departments are tracking the situation at Bhadrachalam and other flood-prone points along the river, while the state government has previously flagged the ageing Medigadda barrage as needing structural repair, a concern officials say adds urgency to monitoring river levels this monsoon. No casualties or major property damage have been reported so far from the current surge, but authorities are continuing to watch the river closely given the pace at which the level has climbed. The situation underscores the recurring flood risk faced by riverside communities in the Godavari basin during the tail end of the monsoon season.