The monsoon deluge continued to wreak havoc on life and property in many parts of the State and three more people went missing on Wednesday after being washed away by swollen rivers.
According to reports reaching Bangalore, two youths were washed away in the Varada near Bankasana in Sorab taluk of Shimoga district and another in Belgaum district. Search was on to trace Manjunatha (20), son of Shankarappa, and Manjunatha (21), son of Shekharappa, who were carried away by the strong currents when they were watching the river in spate. An18-year-old girl was washed away in the Pandari river near Khanapur.
Preliminary estimates put the loss of property and crops in Shimoga district at around Rs 100 crore. Several bridges, roads, houses and tanks in the district were damaged in the monsoon fury, which returned after a long dry spell.
Major tanks at Seegehalla, Anavatti and Bidare have breached. Vehicular traffic was badly hit as major rivers overflowed at several places. The district administration has released Rs 1.5 crore towards relief and rescue operations. As the Tunga, Bhadra, Sharavati, Varada, Kumudwati and other rivers continued to swell, water submerged low-lying areas in several places. Persons displaced by floods were provided shelter in 12 relief centres in Bhadravati, seven in Shimoga, two each in Mandagadde and Sorab and one in Shikaripur.
In spate
According to a Raichur report, the Tungabhadra is in spate and 2.30 lakh cusecs water was being discharged from the reservoir. As many as 40 families in Manvi taluk and 94 families in Sindhanur taluk, living in low lying areas, have been moved to safer places as a precautionary measure. Gruel centres have been set up. In Belgaum district, more bridges were submerged as the rain in the catchment areas continued to be heavy.
Maharashtra added to the misery by releasing water from its reservoirs. About 21 bridges at Chikkodi, Khanapur and Gokak taluks submerged throwing life out of gear. More than 65 families staying in the low-lying areas of Gokak town have been shifted to safer areas.
Eight cars were crushed as a big tree fell on them due to incessant rains in Belgaum city. The incident took place at Camp area where several second-hand cars were parked for sale.
Reports from Dharwad and Haveri districts said that the situation has improved in Dharwad district, while flood waters continued to play havoc in Haveri district as the Rivers Varada and Thungabhadra are still in spate.
Haveri Deputy Commissioner P S Vastrad told Deccan Herald that 33 villages were badly affected and more than 6,000 people were shifted to safer places. As many as 33 houses have collapsed and over 400 houses were partially damaged. As many as 33 gruel centres have been opened.
Dharwad DC M S Srikar said the district had received sufficient rain in the last eight days and the damage was minimal.
A SEPARATE AERIAL VIEW
Bangalore, dhns: Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said Deputy Commissioners of all flood-affected districts have been directed to take relief works on priority basis.
Speaking to reporters after garlanding the statue of former chief minister late S Nijalingappa in front of Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore, he said DCs have also been instructed to send a report on the extent of damage to the Government at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said that the State has asked for Rs 300 crore aid to take up flood-relief operation.
An all-party delegation led by the Chief Minister will shortly meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek additional funds, he added.
He said that 13 districts were affected by floods and the total loss to both public and private property would be around Rs 1,000 crore.
Mr Yediyurappa was speaking to reporters at the launch of “Bhagyalakshmi” scheme in Bangalore.
Aerial survey
Both the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister will conduct separate aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in the State, Mr Yediyurappa said.
