JOIN USFlood threat grips N-K
Chandravva, 22, of Nagasampige in Bagalkot slipped into flood waters while washing clothes.
In Mudhol, eight families in Dhavaleshwara, 42 families in Mirji were shifted to safer places.
Gruel centres were opened for the flood victims. The Mudhol-Yadavada bridge submerged on Monday night, severing the link with Belgaum district.
However, flood seemed to subside after 33,000 cusec was released from Hidkal reservoir.
Villages in Gokak taluk have also been cut off from the neighbouring villages. As many as 15 barrages, including Giragala, Ingalagi and Jambagi are also marooned. More than 11 villages are under flood threat in Gokak taluk alone.
Four villages have virtually turned into islands.
Misery of people in Bijapur and Belgaum was compounded by discharge of 33,351 cusec water from Koyna dam by Maharashtra without prior intimation. The water level rose above the danger marks in rivers Krishna and Bhima, and their tributaries, causing flood threat in several villages along their banks.
In Belgaum district, 2.35 lakh cusec was discharged from Rajapur barrage on Tuesday.
As many as 21 roads, bridges and barrages in Chikodi, Athani, Hukkeri and Khanapur went under water, and for the first time, five roads in Athani taluk alone were inundated.
Kudachi bridge, a vital link between the State and Maharashtra, remained under water over the past three days.
In Bijapur
Dhulkhed and Chenegaon villages in Indi taluk were marooned as the Maharashtra Irrigation Department opened the gates of Ujani and Veera reservoirs, releasing 1.76 lakh cusec, without prior notice.
Standing crops, including sugar cane, ground nut, maize, sunflower, were damaged on hundreds of acres, causing a loss of around Rs three crore.
Residents of the villages on the banks of River Bhima were stranded. The farmers, upset over callousness of Maharashtra, fear the worse in the coming days.
Tahsildar G L Metri has cautioned the residents to shift to the safer places. The district administraion has also appointed taluk-level officers as nodal officers to monitor the situation. A flood monitoring centre was opened in the taluk headquarters and a helpline (225020) was launched.
Almatti reservoir
All the 26 gates of Almatti reservoirs were opened following the increase in inflow to 2.97 lakh cusec and the outflow was a record 3 lakh cusec. Rivers such as Ghatapraba are in full spate.
Besides, due to increased inflow, three lakh cusec of water was released from Narayanapur reservoir in Raichur district and the villagers on the banks of River Krishna were told to shift to safer places.