The branch of the Godavari that flows through Yanam, a part of Puducherry, is the:

Near Rajahmundry (Rajamahendravaram) in Andhra Pradesh, the Godavari splits into two main branches, the Gautami Godavari and the Vasishta Godavari. The Gautami flows past Yanam, an enclave of the Union Territory of Puducherry, before entering the Bay of Bengal.

The Godavari delta:

• After the Dowleswaram barrage (Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage) near Rajahmundry, the river divides into the Gautami (eastern branch) and the Vasishta (western branch).
• These branches further split into smaller channels, forming a large, fertile delta.
• The traditional "Sapta Godavari" refers to seven mouths of the river; today, there are fewer main channels.

Sir Arthur Cotton, a British engineer, built the Dowleswaram anicut (dam) in the 1850s, which transformed the delta into a rich rice-growing area. He is still remembered with great respect in the region.

About Yanam:

• Yanam is a small enclave of the Union Territory of Puducherry, surrounded by the East Godavari (Kakinada) district of Andhra Pradesh.
• It was a French colony from the 18th century until 1954, when the French possessions in India were transferred de facto to India; de jure transfer took place in 1962.
• Puducherry consists of four separate regions: Puducherry and Karaikal (surrounded by Tamil Nadu), Mahe (surrounded by Kerala) and Yanam (surrounded by Andhra Pradesh).

Coringa mangroves:

The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, near the mouth of the Gautami branch, has one of the largest mangrove forests on India's east coast, after the Sundarbans and Bhitarkanika.

Gas and oil:

The Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin off this coast is an important source of natural gas.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Vasishta is the western branch of the Godavari in the delta.
• ✗The Pranhita and Sabari are tributaries that join the Godavari, not branches in its delta.