Godavari Flood Threat Intensifies in Andhra Pradesh

Key facts

• On 1 August 2026, the Godavari river was in spate and the first flood warning was issued at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowleswaram.
• All crest gates of the barrage were lifted to discharge 12.37 lakh cusecs of floodwater into the Bay of Bengal.
• Floodwaters inundated stretches of NH-326 and NH-30, disrupting road connectivity between Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
• Godavari crossed the third warning level at Bhadrachalam, peaking at 56.10 feet at 11 am and receding to 55.30 feet by 6 pm.
• Konaseema district was placed on high alert as floodwaters were expected to reach it shortly.
• Floods affected 8,492 people across 28 villages in Velerupadu and Kukkunoor mandals of Eluru district.
• In Polavaram district, the Sabari river at Chinturu stood at 39.8 feet at 6 pm and floodwaters blocked 44 roads in Yetapaka, Kunavaram, VR Puram and Chinturu mandals.
• Rescue measures included a 25-member NDRF team at Velerupadu, a 25-member NDRF/SDRF team at Kukkunoor, 15 boats, two launches, trained swimmers, 28 country boats, seven tractors, one van, and 55 boats mobilised by the fisheries department.
• In Chinturu division, 110 pregnant women were shifted to safer locations and official figures showed nine villages submerged, one village marooned, 608 families evacuated and 563 houses inundated.