Heavy rain fills 1,000 tanks in Kolar district

The recent heavy rain has come as a bounty for the dried up water bodies in Kolar district. According to the officials of the irrigation department, more than 1,000 tanks in the district alone. The district has been reeling under acute water scarcity owing to consecutive drought for a decade.

According to officials, 600 tanks had filled to the brim in Kolar district till October 8. The downpour for the next two days filled another 400 tanks. As many as 500 tanks have overflowed. Twenty tanks in Srinvaspur taluk and 30 in Mulbgal overflowed due to Monday night’s rain alone.

Kolar district received 289.20 mm of rain on Monday night, while it rained 92.40 mm in Kolar taluk, 30.60 mm in Bangarpet, 54 mm in Malur, 82.2 mm in Mulbagal and 30 mm in Srinivaspur taluk.

The railway underpass near Khandripura in the town has turned to be a bane for the local residents. The underpass floods whenever it rains. It was constructed during the tenure of K H Muniyappa as the railway minister. The residents of Khadripura, New Extension, Keshava Nagar and other localities have to pass through this underpass to reach the other parts of the town.

Industrial training centre and private school function in Khadripura and hence students and school vehicles traverse on this route.

However, the work has been executed in an unscientific manner as a result of which rainwater accumulated in the underpass. Since it has been raining for a month in the town, the road connectivity to areas connected by underpass has snapped. As the underpass is inaccessible, pedestrians and motorcyclists are compelled to cross over the railway track. This has been leading to accidents.

To add to the woes, the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board has dug the road for its underground drainage work. The project, which began in August, is progressing at a snail’s pace. The officials of the city municipality, railway and public works department have conducted spot inspection several times. However, no solution has been found out for the problem till now.

Houses Collapse

As many as 85 houses have collapsed in Kolar taluk - eight in kasabahobli, seven in Vakkaleri, 18 in Vemagal, 19 in Huttur, 11 in Holur and 22 in Sugatur hobli. More than 20 tanks have overflowed.

The house of Bhagyamma and Sonnappa couple in Nenumanahalli village caved in due to the downpour. The villagers rescued the couple from the debris. Rainwater gushed into a brick kiln in Nadupahalli causing losses to the tune of lakhs of rupees.

The bricks stocked in the shed was dissolved in the rainwater. Walls and ceiling of some houses have been demolished. Houses in low-lying areas were inundated. Articles of daily use, groceries, furniture, electrical equipment were washed away.

The huge temple pond (kalyani) of Veeralappaswamy temple in Vanarashi village of Kolar taluk has filled to the brim after a gap of 15 years. Villagers offered bagina to the pond.

Rainwater gushed into more than 100 houses in low-lying areas of C Rahmin Nagar and Sait Compound Extension in Bangarpet.

A total of 36 houses have collapsed due to the downpour. More than 20 tanks in Siddanahalli, Ainora Hosahalli, S Madamangala and other areas have breached.

The stretch of Budikote road from Hunasanahally railway bridge has partially caved in. Those who lost their houses have been sheltered in four marriage halls temporarily and food provided to them.

The downpour has damaged standing crops as well. Water has accumulated in agricultural fields leading to rotting of crops. Tomato and potato, which were sown recently, have contracted blight disease.

Bangavadi tank in Srinivaspur taluk has overflowed. The tahsildar visited the tank and advised the farmers not to waste the water in the tank, which has filled to the brim after long years.