Normal life was affected in north Karnataka as heavy showers in its catchment areas and Maharashtra’s Konkan belt pushed up water level in the Krishna river and its tributaries, triggering flood threat in basin districts on Saturday.
Heavy rains continued at many places in the district, including Belagavi and Khanapur taluk from the past five days. Normal life was disrupted in parts of Belagavi district on Saturday.
Meanwhile Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will meet Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil in Bengaluru today, to discuss ways to reduce flood damage in the Krishna basin villages.
Belagavi and Khanapur taluks witnessed incessant rainfall. Other taluks, including Gokak and other parts received intermittent rain. There was sufficient water inflow in the Hidkal dam, Navilutheertha and Dupdal reservoirs.
Water level in Vedganga, Dudganga and Krishna rivers is also increasing due to heavy water being released from Maharashtra dams.
About four low level bridge cum barrages drowned in Chikkodi and other places in the district due to heavy water releasing from Maharashtra dams.
Deputy Commissioner M G Hiremut visited the Vedganga Dudganga river area yesterday and directed the related officials to prepare themselves to face any type of incidents with related sufficient equipment, including medical, boats, animal fodder, tents and others, the DC said.
Heavy rains continued in Belagavi taluk and city, water entered in to the low level areas and agriculture fields at many places. Many water falls like, Gokak, Sogal water fall attracted to the people with heavy water.
The overflowing rivers have submerged acres of paddy and sugarcane fields in Belagavi and Bagalkot districts. Nine low-lying bridges-cum-barrages in Nippani and Chikkodi have gone under floodwater as traffic has been diverted to alternative routes. Several temples, including Holebasaveshwara temple at Machaknur in Mudhol taluk and Bangali Baba temple on Doodhganga banks, are submerged.
Inflow into Almatti dam, the lifeline of north Karnataka districts, on Friday evening clocked a whopping 1.46 lakh cusecs following the relentless showers in Krishna river catchments in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The dam has received 3.2 tmcft of water
Meanwhile, there was some respite from heavy rain in Shivamogga district on Friday. Shivamogga, Sagar, Bhadravathi, Sorab and Shikaripur taluks experienced spells of light showers in the day.
Shivamogga DC K B Shivakumar has banned the movement of vehicles on Kollur Ghat road till August 30, after a portion of road near Nagodi, Hosanagar taluk, caved in on Friday.
Very heavy showers in Bhagamandala (21 cm) have rapidly increased the water level in Triveni Sangama in Kodagu district.
Both Cauvery and Lakshmanathirtha rivers are in spate. Rain, coupled with strong winds, has brought down several trees and power lines, keeping Chamundishewari electrical supply corporation staff on toes in the hilly district.
Many parts of north interior Karnataka, including Hubballi-Dharwad twin cities, continued to witness moderate to heavy rain for the fourth day on the trot. The sprawling Unkal lake in Hubballi breached on Friday.
While three coastal district have already issued red alert for heavy rains during the next three days .
