The water level in the river rose sharply due to torrential rains that lashed the taluk and the neighbouring Andhra border areas.
The sheep rearers had camped in M Gonal village along with their livestock. The flash floods in the river inundated the area and washed away the animals in its wake.
Fire service personnel rescued eight people and 20 horses trapped in the deluge using air boats. More than 200 sheep have met similar fate in Sirivara village, Addl SP Ashok Kurera informed. The sheep were said to be owned by rearers from Chikkodi and Belgaum. The gushing waters have also washed away household articles of three families.
Lok Sabha member J Shantha, Deputy Commissioner B Shivappa, Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer Rajaram and others visited the spot.
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