Belagavi faces flood scare, rains continue in Malnad

Even as flood threat looms large across Krishna river and its tributaries in Belagavi district, many areas in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts received rains on Friday.

Meanwhile, a man and his son were washed away by floods in Tungabhadra river Ballari district.

Maharashtra released nearly 2 lakh cusecs of water into the Krishna river on Friday resulting in floods at many places in Belagavi district.

A total of 9 bridges including six low-lying bridges in Chikkodi and one in Raibag and two in Athani taluk have submerged.

Water discharge from Maharashtra increased to 1.81 lakh cusecs. Discharge into river Krishna from Rajapur barrage is 1.52 lakh cusecs and 29,216 cusecs from Doodhganga. Hippargi barrage is receiving 2.03 lakh cusecs, while the outflow is 2.02 lakh cusecs. Flood alerts have been issued to villagers across Krishna, Doodhganga and Vedganga rivers.

Incessant rains lashed malnad region on Friday after a brief lull. Hosanagara, Thirthahalli, Sagara, Bhadravathi, Shikaripura, Soraba and Shivamogga received good spell of rains increasing water levels in Tunga and Malathi rivers.

Agumbe received 117mm rains and Thirthahalli 17.6mm. A wall of a house collapsed at Talluru in Thirthahalli taluk.

Mudigere in Chikkamgaluru district received heavy rains throwing normal life out of gear. At many places, there were reports of damages of paddy seedlings. A man and his seven-year-old son were washed away in floods at Bagawadi village in Siraguppa taluk during wee hours of Friday.

The incident occurred when Rafeeq (35), his son Issack, Saddam and Mabasha, all from Siraguppa, had gone to lift sand on the river bank in three bullock carts.

Saddam was rescued by local residents, while Mabasha and the cattle swam safely to the bank. The police and the fire force personnel are searching for the bodies.

Moderate rainfall has been predicted in Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts for a week. The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted 43 mm rainfall for Mysuru, 38 mm for Mandya and 5 mm rainfall for Chamarajanagar districts.