Deluge in Kodagu, Malnad wreaks havoc in Mandya

MANGALURU: Heavy rain in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts over the past few week has led to havoc downstream from the KRS dam in Mandya, as the historical town of Srirangapatna and Ranganathittu, the bird sanctuary, near Mysuru, were flooded. Floodwater is now threatening to wash away the historical Wellesley Bridge, built by the British across the Cauvery river.
For only the second time in a decade, KRS dam is discharging over 1.5 lakh cusecs, which left a trail of destruction.As the water level rose, it flooded the bird sanctuary, located 10km from the reservoir. Since the sanctuary was closed, tourists were spared, but birds are badly hit.
Further downstream, in the island town of Srirangapatna, religious sites of Paschimavahini, where ashes of the dead are immersed, and Sangama were flooded. Authorities also moved in and shifted seven people including Gajanana Swami, the seer at Gouthama Kshetra, to safety at Doddegowdana Kopplu. Inmates of an ashram located on the banks of the Cauvery at Srirangapatna were also moved out. Muttati, a popular tourist spot, is closed to visitors. The situation in villages along the Hemavati river in KR Pete taluk in Mandya district is also grim.
Rain receded across both Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts on Sunday, but the threat of flooding was omnipresent. More than 4,000 people, including women and children, were brought to relief centres in both districts as the Cauvery and Kapila continue to flow above the danger mark. According to preliminary estimates, a total 832 houses were damaged in Mysuru district alone. In Chamarajanagar, Kollegal taluk is the worst hit. Residents staying along the Kapila river have been asked to move to safe places.
Situation still grim in N-K
The situation continued to remain grim in Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Raichur districts in North Karnataka besides Ballari, as a staggering 6.7lakh cusecs was released into the Krishna river and 2.6 lakh cusecs into the Bhima river. In Shorapur taluk, Yadgir district, about 150 houses have been submerged. Fortunately, people had moved out to a government school on Friday. Although the government constructed new houses for people of Shellagi, Bandoli, Mustalli after the 2009 floods, many continued to stay in their old homes.
Six people, who had ventured out to graze cattle, were rescued from Chowdeshwarihal village. In Kalaburagi, Afzalpur, Jevargi and Chittapur taluks are waterlogged.
A red alert has been sounded in areas like Hampi, Kampli, Kurugodu, Siriguppa, Huvinahadagali and Harapanahalli in Ballari after authorities released 3lakh cusecs from the Tungabhadra reservoir on Sunday. A 1km bridge between Kampli and Gangavathi in Koppal district was submerged as was Madalagatta Road.
Sun out in Chikkamagaluru
In Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts, the sun came out for the first time in the past week although the death toll rose to six with one person still missing. With the sun out, personnel were able to carry out rescue operations without hindrance. About 70 residents of Alekhan Horatti, located in the Charmadi Ghat section, were rescued by a team of NDRF and army personnel. The body of Sumanth, 8, a resident of Sunkasale was found in flood water, while in Sabbenahalli an unidentified body was recovered. The body of Shrivatsa, 22, who was washed away in the Hemavati river, was also recovered.