Floodwaters continue to rage through North Karnataka

30-year-old man gets washed away at a field in Belagavi district; water level in the Krishna increases by 4 ft after release of around 20 tmcft from Maharashtra

August 05, 2019 11:26 pm | Updated 11:26 pm IST - BELAGAVI/RAICHUR/VIJAYAPURA/HUBBALLI

An aerial view of river Krishna that has flooded many northern districts.

An aerial view of river Krishna that has flooded many northern districts.

The flood situation in northern districts of Karnataka continues to be grim as outflow from reservoirs in the Krishna basin of Maharashtra has witnessed an increase, resulting in further inundation of villages, barrage-cum-bridges, and farmlands.

The death toll has risen to two with a man getting washed away in the floodwaters of Krishna river in Belagavi district on Monday. Maruti Jadhav, 30, was washed away at a field near Chikkodi. The police found his body downstream by evening. Three days ago, Shivanand Nayak got washed away in the floodwaters at Adeppa Ankalagi village.

Eight persons, who were stranded owing to floods in Lingsugur taluk of Raichur district, were rescued by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, and local residents.

Officials estimate that water level in the Krishna has increased by at least 4 feet after the release of around 20 tmcft from Maharashtra.

Though rain subsided in Belagavi district and surrounding areas, water flow from Maharashtra increased to 3.01 lakh cusecs by Monday morning. By evening, the outflow from Basavasagar reservoir at Narayanpur in Yadgir district was at the rate of 2.92 lakh cusecs and from Lal Bahadur Shastry dam in Almatti it was 3.03 lakh cusecs.

Belagavi district has been the worst affected so far. On Monday, 27 barrage-cum-bridges remained submerged and according to an official estimate, crops have been damaged on 3,000 hectares.

Following the high quantum of outflow from Basavasagar reservoir, six islands remained cut off and two key bridges were submerged in Yadgir district. While 600 acres of farmland has inundated in Jamkhandi taluk of Bagalkot district, 150 acres of farmland at Nidagundi in Vijayapura district are under water. The alarming water level across the Chikkapadasalagi bridge has resulted in a ban on movement of heavy vehicles.

The bridges across river Krishna near Sheelahalli and Hunadagi villages in Raichur district have already submerged, severing road connectivity from Sheelahalli to Hanchinal and Deodurg to Shahpur.

Relief centres

In all, 69 villages have been affected in Belagavi where the district administration has set up nine relief centres.

The NDRF, State Disaster Relief Force, Maratha Light Infantry Regiment Centre, Fire and Emergency services personnel, home guards, and the police are working in the worst-affected villages. A total of 50 NDRF personnel, 56 SDRF, 19 Fire and Emergency Services, and 100 home guards are on duty.

Nearly all families have been shifted to safer places in the villages of Ingali, Manjari, and Yedurwadi. The police are helping other agencies to shift some of the families in Bedakihal, Nippani, Kudachi, Harorgeri, Raddarhatti, Jugula, and Ainapur. Three sets of boats have been kept in Bailhongal, Gokak, and Khanapur.

In Jamkhandi taluk where 14 villages are inundated, three relief centres have been set up. Assistant Commissioner of Jamkhandi Ikram Sharif told The Hindu that around 120 families and several cattle had been evacuated from villages in the taluk. Deputy Commissioner Y.S. Patil, who visited Almatti dam on Sunday, said the situation was under control.

The district administration has taken precautionary measures as around 51 villages are likely to be affected if outflow from the reservoir further increases to four lakh cusecs.

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