Incessant rains in Western Ghats swell reservoirs of Krishna, Cauvery basins

Bengaluru: Rainfall has subsided in coastal districts and Malnad on Sunday, but the incessant rain in the Western Ghats in the last few days has significantly spurred water levels in the reservoirs of Krishna and Cauvery basins.

Flood warnings have been issued for people living downstreams of Krishna and Cauvery basin rivers following heavy outflows from the reservoirs.

The rivers in Krishna basin have started getting copious inflows following torrential rain in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and massive discharges from the dams there. Kalaburagi district administration has issued flood alert on the banks of Bhima river after 42,000 cusecs of water was released from Ujani reservoir in Solapur district of Maharashtra.

Almatti reservoir, on Sunday, clocked an inflow of 60,160 cusec. With the inflows expected to cross 1 lakh-mark, the dam authorities discharged 1,20,000 cusec downstream. The Narayanpur reservoir on Sunday released 1,23,400 cusec.

The Hidkal dam (Rajalakamanagouda reservoir) in Belagavi is almost full. As much as 10,000 cusec was released through 10 crest gates. The dam authorities have asked the people living on the banks of Ghataprabha and Hiranyakeshi rivers to move to safer locations, along with their cattle.

Over 1 lakh cusec was discharged from Tungabhadra reservoir on Sunday. The swollen Tungabhadra has submerged several monuments in Anegondi, including the Krishnadevaraya tomb, Vijayanagara-era bridge and Nava Vrindavana.

The road connecting Hosapete and Ballari with other Kalyana Karnataka districts has been closed for traffic with the bridge between Kampli-Gangavati going under flood waters of Tungabhadra. The road link between Virupapur Gaddi and Hampi has been cut off.

Down south, Srirangapatna is reeling under floods following massive outflows from Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir. Boating at the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary has been suspended following rise in water level in river Cauvery.

Cauvery river is flowing above danger mark at Ramanathapur and Konanur hoblis in Arkalgud following heavy outflows from Harangi and Hemavathi dams. The bath ghat at Ramanthapur has completely submerged.

Meanwhile, the bath ghat of Srikanteshwara temple and Hadinaru Kaalu mantapa in Nanjangud have gone under the swollen Kapila river.

The rising levels of Kapila river is giving anxious moments for the residents of Thopina Beedi, Vokkalageri, Saraswati Colony and Rajajinagar in Nanjangud.

The rainfall has subsided in coast and Malnad but gusty winds are bringing down trees and electricity poles, wreaking havoc on power infrastructure.   

A large number of people throng Krishnaraja Sagar to catch a glimpse of water gushing through crest gates on Sunday. With the dam clocking copious inflows authorities released 56000 cusec downstream.