Monsoon wreaks havoc; crop loss feared

Monsoon continued to batter parts of Karnataka for the second day on Wednesday. Agricultural fields were inundated in several places endangering standing crops.

Major rivers were flowing over danger mark while several reservoirs are full to the brim following copious rains in catchment areas.

Showers continued in Shimoga pushing up water levels in rivers.  Major rivers of the district are flowing over the danger mark.Paddy field on  11,000 acres in Talaguppa hobli of Sagara taluk has been submerged due to the floods in  the Varada river. The Rivers Dandavathi and Tunga are in full spate in Soraba and Theerthahalli respectively. Rains have not subsided in ghat areas of Agumbe and Hulikal.

The inflow into Linganamakki, Tunga and Bhadra reservoir has increased. The water level in Linganamakki dam stood at 1802.60 feet (full reservoir level: 1819 feet) with an inflow of 54,536 cusecs. The catchment area of the dam has recorded 69.2 mm of rains.Water from Almatti Water is being released from all the 26 crest gates of Almatti reservoir from Wednesday. The inflow into the dam went up after release of water from the reservoirs in Krishna basin in Maharashtra.

As much as 1,49,797 cusecs of water is being released into Narayanapura reservoir from Almatti dam. 

The inflow into the dam increased to 1,35,000 cusecs by Wednesday evening and is likely to go up by night, the authorities of the dam said.

All the six power generating units attached to Almatti reservoir have become operational and 266 MW of power is being generated since Friday last. Water level stood at 508.30 metre against the maximum of 519.6 metre in the Almatti dam.

Flood threat in Belgaum

Flood threats loomed large over the villages along the banks of Krishna and its tributaries in Chikodi, Raibag and Athani taluks in the district with the inflow of water into the State increasing to over 1.61 lakh cusecs on Wednesday.

Incessant rains in southern Maharashtra and the release of water from reservoirs in that state have swollen the rivers in Karnataka and flooded agricultural lands along their banks. Many houses in agricultural lands in Chikodi at Pattankudi, Bhoj and Kallol have been submerged.

Heavy rain continued to lash Belgaum and Khanapur taluks in the last 24 hours. Ten gauging stations in Belgaum recorded 283.4 mm rainfall with the highest being 51.1 mm at Rakaskoppa.

The district headquarters recorded 30 mm rain, while 14 gauging stations in Khanapur recorded 696 mm rainfall with the highest being 200.4 mm at Kankumbi, the birthplace of River Malaprabha.

Bridge submerged

A bridge on the outskirts of Sankeshwar town in Hukkeri taluk submerged in the Hiranyakeshi river water on Tuesday, cutting off the road link with the villages in Gadhinglaj taluk in Kolhapur district in Maharashtra. With the bridge closed, people were forced to ply on alternative roads.

Excess rains in Gulbarga

The district has recorded excess rains than the normal rainfall for the month of July even as torrential rains receded on Wednesday. Gulbarga has been receiving rains for the last fortnight.

The district has received 176.93 mm of rains against the normal rainfall of 159.01 mm for the month of July. Chittapur has recorded excess rain of 149 per cent while Jewargi has received 80 per cent more rains this year. More than 100 houses have reportedly collapsed - partially or fully.

 However, there have been no reports of loss of life. The Water Resource Department has sounded red alert on floods in Mullamari river in Chincholi taluk.

The Kodagu district administration has declared holiday for schools and colleges on Thursdsay too in the wake of incessant rains. Movement of vehicles on Moornadu Road was disrupted following landslide.

Farmers stare at crop loss with paddy fields inundated.

Rainfall and sea erosion has intensified in Udupi district. With the washing of fisheries
road at Yermal Thenka, seven houses are facing threat.

The district administration has directed the residents to shift to gruel centres.