Floods leave Bhavani Island in a state of disarray

Bhavani Island in ruins post-floods, plans for revival uncertain; once a prized possession for Andhra Pradesh Tourism.

The picturesque Bhavani Island perched on River Krishna is in ruins in the aftermath of the recent floods that ravaged parts of Vijayawada city.

The island resort, considered a prized possession of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) bore the brunt of the torrential rains that caused floods, turning the otherwise serene river ferocious.

Eye witnesses say the water level rose at a great speed and advanced towards the shoreline with a rare ferocity, washing away the sand from the river bank and depositing it in thick layers across the ground surface of the entire island resort.

The trail of destruction caused by the deluge is evident at Berm Park from where visitors are ferried in boats to land at the island. “The floods have caused extensive damage to Berm Park, the Bhavani Island and other adjacent properties. We have incurred a revenue loss of ₹10-15 crore on the tourism properties alone besides additional loss on business,” said Krishna Chaitanya, APTDC, Vijayawada Divisional Manager.

Due to the intense impact of the floods, all operations at the island and the park had to be closed from August 30, 2024. Initially, the department had plans to revive the operations by Dasara (October 12) but the enormity of the damage and the amount of work that was needed to be invested to bring the island back to life had made it unfeasible, he told The Hindu.

The Bhavani Island has been waiting endlessly to be explored and groomed by addition of new features. The successive governments have been making grand plans to transform it into a major tourist destination.

After bifurcation of the State, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had shared his vision to elevate the place and its significance by integrating six other islands in the vicinity.