For the residents of Somidevipalli, a downpour rings alarms bells. Successive storms and accompanying rain have considerably weakened the flood bank of the Varaha river that flows through the village.
The road that abuts the flood bank itself is in a precarious condition with the flood flow of the river washing away considerable part of the bund. The flood bank suffered heavy damage during the Nilam cyclone of 2012. The condition of the flood bank gave them sleepless nights during last year’s Phailin cyclone also.
“During Hudhud, flood water had flown to the brim parallel to the road. Every time there is a downpour, we go on to the nearby railway track with a bridge across the river for safety. But the water came quite close to the bridge,” says Annam Nookaraju of the village.
The furious flow of water had washed away several palmyra trees that lined the flood bank. Breach to the flood bank would prove disastrous to four villages – Somidevapalli, the closest, Bhimavaram, Gogupalapalem, and Pead Gummuluru – of S. Rayavaram mandal affecting about 10,000 people. Perhaps a damaged groyne that also needs repairs has allowed water to flow down easing pressure on the bund.
Hope beliedThe hope of the villagers that the flood bank would be constructed after the Nilam cyclone was belied. The then Chief Minister, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, had announced that Rs.22 crore would be sanctioned for the flood bank. But nothing materialised and villagers live in perpetual fear during rain, says G.B. Sairam, district BJP general secretary.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also promised during his ‘Vastunna.. Mee Kosam’ padayatra that re-construction of the flood bank would be taken up.
Payakaraopeta MLA V. Anitha (TDP) also told them that she would come to the village with the sanction letter. Villagers hope that another cyclone will not hit them before promises turn into action.
