Godavari crosses second danger mark at Bhadrachalam; 38 rescued
Synopsis
The Godavari River hit 48 feet at Bhadrachalam on 31 July — crossing the second danger mark — while 38 workers were rescued from floodwaters near Cherla, crops drowned in Adilabad, and SCCL reported a ₹18 crore coal production loss. With the third alarm set at 53 feet and upstream inflows unrelenting, the worst may not yet have passed.
Key Takeaways
The Godavari River crossed the second danger mark at Bhadrachalam , reaching 48 feet on 31 July ; the third alarm triggers at 53 feet .
Flow at Bhadrachalam recorded at 11.44 lakh cusecs ; CWC warns levels may rise further.
38 people — truck drivers, cleaners, and machine operators — were rescued from a flooded sand ramp near Cherla in Bhadradri Kothagudem district .
The Annadanam Satram area of Sree Seetha Ramachandraswamy temple was inundated after backwater pumps failed.
SCCL estimated a coal production loss of ₹18 crore due to heavy rains at its Mancherial mines.
Multiple reservoirs — including Sriram Sagar , Yellampalli , and Nizam Sagar — are receiving elevated inflows across north Telangana.
The Godavari River crossed the second danger mark at Bhadrachalam in Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Friday, 31 July, with water levels climbing to 48 feet by afternoon — prompting authorities to issue alerts for residents in low-lying areas along the river's banks. The Central Water Commission (CWC) warned that levels are likely to rise further due to continuing upstream inflows.
Rising Water Levels and Flood Warnings
The river had breached the first danger mark of 43 feet on Friday morning before surging to 48 feet in the afternoon. The third danger signal is set to be hoisted once levels reach 53 feet. According to CWC officials, unrelenting upstream inflows — triggered by heavy rains over the preceding two days — continue to drive the surge. The flow recorded at Bhadrachalam stood at 11.44 lakh cusecs.
Temple Premises Inundated, Pumps Fail
The Annadanam Satram area within the premises of the Sree Seetha Ramachandraswamy temple was flooded due to backwaters. Pumps installed to drain the backwaters into the river broke down, worsening the inundation. Authorities are working to restore the drainage systems.
38 Stranded Workers Rescued Near Cherla
In a significant rescue operation, district authorities deployed boats to save 38 people — including truck drivers, cleaners, and machine operators — who were trapped in a sand ramp near Cherla in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. The group had arrived Friday morning for sand-loading work and was caught off guard by rising floodwaters. All 38 were rescued safely.
Wider Flood Impact Across Telangana
Road connectivity between Cherla and Venkatapuram in Mulugu district was cut off due to flooding. Several villages in Mulugu were also inundated, and while authorities attempted to move residents to relief camps, many resisted relocation — demanding that the government instead sanction permanent housing in safer locations rather than repeat annual evacuations.
In Adilabad district, rivulets and streams were overflowing. The Penganga and Pranahita rivers were receiving heavy floodwaters, with the overflowing Penganga submerging crops and causing significant agricultural losses to farmers in the region.
The Kadam project in Nirmal district was receiving heavy inflows, prompting authorities to release water into the Yellampalli project. Inflows also rose into Sriram Sagar, Singur, Nizam Sagar, Upper Maner, Mid Maner, and Lower Maner reservoirs across north Telangana.
Heavy rains disrupted coal output at the open-cast and underground mines of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) in Mancherial district, with the public-sector company estimated to have suffered a production loss of ₹18 crore.
At the Jurala project across the Krishna River in Jogulamba Gadwal district, authorities opened 24 crest gates to release heavy upstream inflows downstream. With water levels continuing to rise across multiple river systems, authorities are on high alert and monitoring the situation closely.
Point of View
The resistance of Mulugu villagers to evacuation camps, and SCCL's ₹18 crore production loss all point to infrastructure and preparedness gaps that persist year after year. The villagers' demand for permanent housing in safe zones is not new; it has surfaced every monsoon for years. Until the state treats flood-prone relocation as a capital expenditure priority rather than an annual emergency, the rescue-and-return cycle will continue.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of the Godavari River at Bhadrachalam?
As of Friday afternoon, 31 July, the Godavari River at Bhadrachalam reached 48 feet, crossing the second danger mark. The first danger mark is at 43 feet, and the third danger signal will be hoisted if levels reach 53 feet.
Who was rescued during the Bhadrachalam floods and how?
Authorities rescued 38 people — including truck drivers, cleaners, and machine operators — who were stranded in a sand ramp near Cherla in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. They had gone for sand-loading work on Friday morning and were caught in rising floodwaters; the district administration deployed boats to bring them to safety.
Why is the Godavari River flooding in Telangana?
Heavy rains over the preceding two days caused significant upstream inflows into the Godavari and its tributaries, pushing water levels above danger marks at Bhadrachalam. The Central Water Commission has warned that levels are likely to rise further as inflows continue.
What is the impact of the floods beyond the Godavari River?
The floods have had wide-ranging consequences across Telangana: crops were submerged in Adilabad due to Penganga overflow, road connectivity between Cherla and Venkatapuram in Mulugu district was severed, villages in Mulugu were inundated, and SCCL reported a ₹18 crore coal production loss at its Mancherial mines. The Jurala project on the Krishna River also opened 24 crest gates to manage heavy inflows.
What is the status of reservoirs in Telangana amid the heavy rains?
Multiple reservoirs across north Telangana are receiving elevated inflows, including Sriram Sagar, Yellampalli, Singur, Nizam Sagar, Kadam, Upper Maner, Mid Maner, and Lower Maner. Authorities are releasing water from the Kadam project into Yellampalli to manage rising levels.
