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Hyderabad, Oct 2 (IANS) The unprecedented inflows into Srisailam dam across Krishna river in Kurnool district have triggered flash floods in Andhra Pradesh, state Minister for Revenue and Relief Dharmana Prasada Rao said Friday.

The inflows, the highest since India’s independence, have not only inundated Kurnool and Mantralayam towns and dozens of villages in Kurnool district but have also caused floods in neighbouring Mahabubnagar district and posed threat to downstream Krishna and Guntur districts.

“We never had such inflows since independence and this may have caused massive damage,” Rao told reporters.

Srisailam dam, which is 790 feet high, is receiving massive inflows of 1.754 million cusecs of water from Jurala project and other projects and upstream following heavy rain in neighbouring Karnataka. All 12 crest gates of the dam have been opened but the backwaters have still inundated Kurnool town.

Rao said the outflow of 1.152 million cusecs from Srisailam is reaching Nagarjuna Sagar project downstream. As 26 crest gates of Sagar have been opened, huge inflows are reaching Prakasam barrage near Vijayawada in Krishna district.

The authorities in Krishna district have started vacating people from low-lying areas in and around Vijayawada city. “Since every drop coming from upstream has to be released we are appealing to people to be on alert,” said the minister.

All 72 crest gates of Prakasam barrage have also been opened to release entire inflows into the Bay of Bengal.

Rao said the priority of the state authorities was rescue operations in Kurnool and Mahabubnagar and the exact damage to houses, crops and property would be known only after the floods recede.

source:http://www.dailytimesindia.com/2009/10/70860.htm