Incessant rainfall hits civic amenities

Lakshmanatheertha river floods surrounding areas in Gonikoppa; roads disconnected

The incessant rains in the past two days has taken a toll on civic amenities with the road between Nittur and Balele getting disconnected, much to the inconvenience of the people.

Lakshmanatheertha river has flooded its surrounding, thanks to the copious rain in catchment areas like Irpu, Brahmagiri hill area, Srimangala, Hudikeri, Nalkeri, Ponnampet, Gonikoppa and Ammathi.

Three days ago, the river was wearing a dried look due to lack of rain. A bridge is being built across the river to connect Nittur and Balele, while the right side of the road adjacent to the bridge is being elevated to prevent it from submerging in water further. What has kept the authorities on tenterhooks, however, is the rain that has impeded the works to an extent. The people at Karmad, Jagale and Nittur, especially school and college going students, have been severely affected.

The river is brimming at Kanur and Harihara too, propelling the danger of submerging the Harihara Balyamandur road in the coming days. Begur resembles the Bay of Bengal, with heavy rain in and around B Shettigeri, Kongana and Hudikeri.

The stagnant rainwater at the paddy fields also portends danger, with the water flowing towards Kongana river from where it reaches the Arabian Sea through Kerala. The water on the left side flows towards Lakshmanatheertha, and reached Bay of Bengal.

The paddy fields at Mapille Thoudu are also submerged in water up to three feet, thus foiling the plans of the farmers who were preparing to transplant the saplings. At some places, the saplings are floating in standing water.

Similar is the situation at Badagara Keri, Birunani, T Shettigeri and B Shettigeri, where KKR river, Barapole and Kongana river are flowing in full spate. The water from these rivers flows towards Kerala to reach the sea.