Swollen Tungabhadra washes away crops

Thousands of acres of agricultural land have been inundated in Hospet taluk following release of water from Tungabhadra reservoir.

Standing crops of paddy, sugarcane, maize, ginger and coconut gardens have been inundated in Kamalapur, Hosur, Hampi, Sanapura, Belagodahalu, Siruguppa and other places. With water stagnating for more than eight days, farmers fear loss of banana crop.

“We have not received good rains till the day. We had grown banana utilising the water available from canal. Now, rains have damaged the crop and we have suffered losses to the extent of lakhs of rupees,” said K Srinivas, a farmer from Venkatapura. Several monuments in Hampi have remained under water for more than a week.

River Tungabhadra has been flowing above danger mark. The inflow into the Tungabhadra reservoir stood at 1.64 lakh cusecs and 1.42 lakh cusecs of water is being released through 33 crest gates.

Bridge submerged

The bridge between Kampli and Gangavathi remained submerged in water on Saturday affecting movement of vehicles. A majority of paddy fields on the river bank are inundated. Farmers said they had grown paddy spending huge sum and their investment and effort went in vain. The graveyard near Belagoduhalu is flooded. Fishermen have not been able to venture into the river.

Maize, cotton and other crops have suffered extensive damage in Hoovinahadagali taluk. The water level in the river had gone down four days ago. However, the river swell following copious rains in Shimoga district.

Belgaum

Respite from rains in Khanapur taluk came in handy for people to involve themselves in regular chores on Saturday, but water levels in rivers and streams continue to be above normal.

Water inflow into River Krishna and its tributaries remained constant in Chikodi taluk. Three low-lying bridges continued to remain submerged.

Khanapur taluk received heavy rains on Friday night, but there was respite on Saturday. One house at Hindalgi village in the taluk collapsed partially, due to rains.

Water levels in rivers Malaprabha, Pandari, Mahadayi and streams Altari, Kalasa and Banduri continued to be above normal, disrupting traffic on many roads.

Water inflow from Maharashtra into River Krishna and its tributaries was 1,08,409 cusecs. The inflow from Kalammawadi dam into River Krishna was 16,424 cusecs and from Rajapur barrage, it was 91,985 cusecs.

D-K, Kodagu

The intensity of rain decreased in Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts on Saturday. Similar is the case in Udupi and Chikmagalur districts. Madikeri, Napoklu, Bhagamandala, Shanthalli, Srimangala and Kutta experienced intermittent rainfall. However, no damages have been reported. The water level in Harangi reservoir, Hassan district stood at 2,854.80 feet. The inflow of water was 3,389 cusecs and outflow was 8,382 cusecs.

Shimoga

Following copious rain in catchment area of Mani dam in Hosanagar taluk over the last one week, Varahi underground Power House generated record electricity of 11.301 million units in a day. According to the Public Relation Officer of Karnataka Power Corporation Alfonso D ‘Mello, it has been a record generation of power in a day in the last 25 years.

The earlier record was 11.210 million units per day. Heavy downpour in Yadur, Mani, Hulikal, Mastikatte in Hosanagar taluk over the last 15 days has pushed up the water level in Mani dam. The water has been utilised properly for power generation, he added.  
 
Rain receded in various parts of the district on Saturday. However, with road being washed away, students faced hard time in reaching their schools and colleges. Students of Chittegadde, Mandli, Vadahosalli, Jeerigemane, Kooramballi and other villages in Hosanagar taluk had to take a wooden bridge constructed by the villagers to go to schools.

A 30-feet stretch of the road connecting Amruta and Mandli was washed away due to heavy rain that lashed the region recently.

The water level in Linganamakki dam increased to 810.15 feet against the maximum level of 1819 feet as catchment area of the dam received rain of 30.50 mm. The inflow of water was  24,110 cusecs. As the water level in Bhadra dam was close to the maximum level of 186 feet, 1,603 cusecs of water was released from the reservoir. The inflow of water  was 18, 565 cusecs.