Polavaram Flood Levels Rise, Downstream Residents Warned to Stay Alert

Fast Summary

• Flood levels at the Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh are rising; water level recorded at 31.850 meters on Friday, august 29, 2025.
• Officials discharged approximately 8.26 lakh cusecs from polavaram downstream into the Godavari River due to increasing water levels.
• Despite this, flood levels in the Godavari and Krishna rivers have started falling:

– Flood level at Bhadrachalam stood at 37.50 feet on Friday.
– Prakasam barrage discharged about 3.94 lakh cusecs, leading to the withdrawal of a first flood warning.
– Water flow rates from major dams were recorded as follows:
– Srisailam Dam: Outflow of around 3.37 lakh cusecs.- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam: Release of approximately 2.47 lakh cusecs.
– Pulichintala project: Discharged about 2.10 lakh cusecs downstream.

• Andhra Pradesh State disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has issued advisories urging people not to cross swollen rivulets, streams, and canals amidst ongoing floods.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The rising floodwaters around the polavaram irrigation project highlight pressing challenges of disaster management and infrastructure adaptation amidst extreme weather events frequently enough linked to climate patterns or monsoon fluctuations that affect India’s river basins annually.

While authorities have proactively managed outflows across dams and barrages along major rivers like Godavari and Krishna-with some areas seeing receding levels-the situation underscores potential risks posed both upstream and downstream in densely populated districts near these waterways during floods.

alertness among local populations remains critical for safety as advised by APSDMA officials; however,this event signals larger implications regarding long-term projects like Polavaram-balancing productive flood management with lasting irrigation goals while safeguarding vulnerable communities living near such areas.

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