📰 Krishna River in Spate: Flood Alert Issued Across Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

Vijayawada, August 21, 2025 — The Krishna River basin is facing a severe flood situation following relentless rainfall in upstream regions and massive inflows from key reservoirs. Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have issued high alerts, evacuated vulnerable communities, and activated emergency response teams to mitigate the crisis.

🌊 Reservoirs Overflowing, Barrages at Full Capacity
Heavy monsoon rains in Maharashtra and Karnataka have swollen the Krishna River, prompting the release of water from major reservoirs including Almatti, Narayanpur, Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Pulichintala. As of Wednesday evening, inflows at Srisailam reached 3.90 lakh cusecs, while Nagarjuna Sagar recorded 4.10 lakh cusecs, with nearly all gates lifted to manage the surge.

At the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada, flood discharge peaked at 4.73 lakh cusecs, triggering the first flood warning of the season. Officials lifted 69 out of 70 gates to release water downstream, though one gate remains inoperative due to prior damage.

🚨 Evacuations and Relief Measures Underway
District administrations in Krishna, NTR, and Palnadu have evacuated residents from low-lying villages such as Pamula Lanka, Masuti, and Mirji. Relief centers have been set up in Mudhol and Jamkhandi taluks, while SDRF teams remain on standby for emergency operations.

In Karnataka, the Almatti Dam is discharging 2.5 lakh cusecs, raising fears of submergence in nearby villages. Dharwad district has closed all schools and Anganwadi centers as a precaution.

📉 Weather Outlook and Public Advisory
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for continued heavy rainfall in the catchment areas. Authorities warn that flood levels may rise to 6 lakh cusecs in the coming hours. Residents are advised to avoid riverbanks, flooded roads, and refrain from boating or fishing activities.

🛠️ Infrastructure and Monitoring
Despite the malfunctioning gate at Prakasam Barrage, engineers assure that floodwater is being discharged effectively. Reservoirs across the state are currently holding 77.64% of their total capacity, with a flood cushion of 223.59 TMC ft available to absorb further inflows.