With rain not relenting in the districts of Western Maharashtra and North Karnataka, the flood situation in northern Karnataka has further worsened. The situation is likely to aggravate as water discharge from reservoirs in the Krishna basin of Maharashtra may increase to 4 lakh cusecs.
With swelling rivers inundating villages, bridges cum barrages cutting-off connectivity from mainland, the region witnessed closure of NH 48 (Pune-Bengaluru stretch) and also suspension of train services in the Londa-Tinaighat section of the Hubballi Division of South Western Railway. While several trains were partially cancelled, few were rescheduled and others diverted via alternative routes. Quick restoration work by the railway staff resulted in resumption of train services on the route by evening.
There has been steady increase in the outflow from the reservoirs built across the Krishna and its tributaries in Karnataka. On Tuesday, the inflow to Lal Bahadur Shastri Reservoir at Almatti was at the rate of 3.6 lakh cusecs at 5.15 p.m. and the outflow increased to 4 lakh cusecs. At Basavasagar Reservoir at Narayanpur in Hunasagi taluk of Yadgir district, the outflow was increased to 3.82 lakh cusecs after the inflow rose to 3.6 lakh cusecs. 6,000 cusecs of water is being discharged from Malaprabha reservoir at Naviluteerth in Savadatti taluk of Belagavi district as the inflow rose to 40,000 cusecs on Tuesday.
In Uttar Kannada district, rivers are flowing above the danger level as 1.4 lakh cusecs of water is being released from Kadra dam. Sounding high alert, the district administration has begun evacuating people on the banks of the rivers and has set up 50 relief centres. A 48-hour ban on entry to beaches has been imposed.
In the worst-affected Belagavi district, 8,012 people and 3,826 heads of cattle have been shifted to safer locations. On Tuesday, 1,398 people and 580 heads of cattle took shelter in 23 relief centres. Belagavi Deputy Commissioner S.B. Bommanahalli said 96 villages have been affected, and crops on 80,590 hectares damaged. Six government buildings, 1,048 km of roads, 140 bridges and check dams, 22 waterways, and 2,571 electric poles have also been damaged in the district. In Belagavi city, six relief centres have been opened.
Deaths reported
One death each was reported in Belagavi and Haveri districts. Gangappa Madar, 38, was electrocuted when he tried to rescue his cow after his house partially collapsed in Hosakote village near Nesargi in Belagavi district. In Haveri, Shivappa Sottappanavar, 50, was washed away in a canal of the Dharma in Sringeri of Anekal taluk.
Gokak is almost surrounded by water and the lone connecting road to the town is from Yaragatti. The Lolsur bridge near Gokak, which was last submerged in 2004, is under water again. Residents of Adabhatti village have left after it was surrounded by the Ghataprabha river. Sharavva Basavanneppa, another resident, said villagers did not heed to officials’ advice to evacuate early.
On Tuesday, the NDRF team, civic authorities, police and fire and emergency personnel rescued 200 people from flood-affected islands and areas in Lingsagur, Deodurg, and taluks of Raichur district.
Three relief centres were opened in Dharwad district and one in Haveri district.
Holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Dharwad, Haveri, Uttara Kannada and Belagavi districts.
