JOIN USArmy troops were on standby for rescue and relief operations as the flood situation in Andhra Pradesh turned grim with incessant rains for the fourth consecutive day and the alarming rise in the level of Godavari river.
The state government has requested the defence and home ministries and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide required assistance for rescue and relief in flood-hit districts.
More than 150 villages in Khammam district faces threat as the level in Godavari rose to 55.4 feet at Bhadrachalam while dozens of villages in north Telangana districts were inundated due to copious rains.
With Godavari level rising with every hour and the met office forecasting more rains over next two days, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy asked the district collectors to be on high alert take the help of army, air force and navy, if necessary.
Two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have already left for Khammam district for rescue and relief operations.
The heavy rains under the impact of low pressure area over Bay of Bengal have claimed two lives - one each in Warangal and Karimnagar districts.
Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raghuveera Reddy said four helicopters of Indian Air Force (IAF) were ready for rescue work.
According to a statement from the chief minister's office, five choppers were kept ready for air dropping of food, water and medicines to the marooned villages.
Seven relief camps opened in Nizamabad town and about 2,000 people were accommodated in these camps.
Khammam district authorities have started evacuating people from villages abutting Godavari river. With the level crossing 53 feet, the authorities sounded third flood warning.
Central Water Commission (CWC) officials informed the government that the water level could rise to 60 feet Friday night and 65 feet Saturday.
The continuing rains created havoc in the districts of Adilabad, Warangal, Karimnagar and Khammam as several villages were cut off due to overflowing rivers, rivulets, tanks and streams. Crops spread over 10,000 acres were damaged in Adilabad district alone.
Several low-lying areas in towns and villages of Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar were inundated. Water entered into residential colonies.
Dozens of villages in East Godavari and West Godavari district as Godavari river is in spate due to heavy rains in upstream north Telangana district. First flood warning was issued at at Cotton Barrage at Dwaleswaram as the river level rose to 11.75 meters.
Authorities have released 9.83 lakh cusecs of water into the Bay of Bengal.
The government has deputed special officers to Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, East Godavari and West Godavari districts to monitor rescue and relief works.