Flood alert sounded in Andhra

A flood alert has been issued in five districts of Andhra Pradesh after river Godavari touched the 53-foot danger mark at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district.

Adilabad,Karimnagar,Nizamabad and East Godavari districts were put on alert with the Godavari in spate due to incessant rainfall in the past 48 hours. NDRF teams have been moved from Vijayawada to Khammam as the Godavari is expected to flood several low-lying areas,Disaster Management Authority Commissioner B R Meena said.

Authorities have earmarked 111 villages in Khammam and Adilabad districts for evacuation if the flood level rises Friday night.

Officials said exceptionally heavy rainfall of 581.2 mm was recorded at Perur in Khammam district,adding dozens of people were evacuated from small villages on the banks of Godavari Friday afternoon.