morning. The outer wall of the Dowlaishweram lock was carried away, and a breach 250 yards long was made in the bank of the main canal, which resulted in the whole of the south-eastern corner of the Rajahmundry taluk being submerged. Many breaches also occurred in the central delta, the worst being in the Gannavaram canal, and whole tracts of country were under water. Fortunately, the inhabitants, with very few exceptions, succeeded in making their escape to natural eminences and the river and canal banks. The river also breached its bank near Pólavaram, flooded Pólavaram, and did a great deal of damage there and in Tállapúdi and some other villages.
The loss of crop was again nothing like so great as at one time seemed likely. It was estimated that the damage in Amalápuram and Rámachandrapuram was Rs. 48,000, and that houses in those taluks and Rajahmundry had suffered to about the same extent. In the district as it was then constituted Rs. 16,500 of land revenue and Rs. 45,000 of water-tax were remitted, and damage estimated at Rs. 15,000 was done to the flood-banks, canals and channels.
In July of the next year a high flood lasted for about twelve days. The river was 15'8 feet above the anicut on the 19th. A number of breaches occurred in the left bank of the Vasishta and a large one in the Vainatéyam, and some 2,200 acres of wet crop were lost. This was mostly replanted again and the remission of revenue on account of the submersion of crops amounted to only Rs. 6,400.
On October 3rd, 1891, the river attained the unparalleled height of l6'9 feet above the anicut; but no breaches occurred. A flood of only 12'9 feet in September of the following year breached the Cocanada and Samalkot canals (the latter in thirteen places) as well as the river flood-banks above the anicut. Scarcely any harm was done to the crops; but the budget allotment for repairs to the delta works had to be increased by Rs. 30,000, chiefly on account of the repairs rendered necessary on the Samalkot canal.
The crops in Amalápuram and Rámachandrapuram suffered from floods in 1895; but this was owing to excessive local rainfall, and not to the action of the river. Twenty inches of rain fell in 24 hours in Amalápuram on the 6th September, Remissions of revenue amounting to Rs. 10,000 were granted for submersion in these and the Rajahmundry taluks, and roads and trees suffered much more than the crops.
More serious damage was done by the river next year. Rising to 13'8 feet above the anicut on the 2nd August, the water made a large number of breaches in the canal and river
