Flood threat looms as dams inch closer to max level

Several dams in the state have almost reached the brim due to incessant rains and a flood threat looms large.

As many as 8 tmc ft of water entered the Almatti dam in Bagalkot district on a single day on Saturday, following heavy showers in the catchment areas of Maharashtra.

The inflow was 90,886 cusecs in the day and it is expected to reach 95,000 cusecs by night and 1 lakh cusecs by Sunday evening.

While the storage in the dam was 72.9 tmc ft on Friday, it reached 80.837 tmc ft on Saturday. The water level in the reservoir was 516.7 metres against the maximum level of 519.6 metre. The level on the same day last year was 512.5 metres. The water storage was 80.837 tmc ft against the capacity of 123.081 tmc ft.

The Almatti dam is expected to reach the maximum level in the next four days. The Rajapur barrage, where the water from the neighbouring state reaches, had an inflow of 74,946 cusecs.

Belagavi city and surroundings villages continued to received mild showers. The city witnessed mild showers in the morning, which continued till late afternoon.

Bridges submerged

The six low-lying bridges - Kallol-Yadur, Mallikwad-Dattwad, Jatra-Bhivash, Bhoj-Karadga, Kunnur-Bhojwadi and Akkol-Sidnal across Krishna and its tributaries Doodhganga and Vedganga continue to be submerged.

Landslides have been reported from roads leading to Kaiga in Karwar taluk. Showers continued elsewhere in Uttara Kannada district even as the threat of flood looms over River Varada in Sirsi taluk. People had to travel in boats due to the flood in the river at Banavasi of Sirsi taluk.

Subhash Chitkar, 69, and his son-in-law Nagaraj, 25, died when a tree fell on the bike in which they were travelling at Beeragadde Cross off national highway-63 in Yellapur, Uttara Kannada district. The tree fall is attributed to the heavy rain. Houses collapsed in Haliyal and Siddapur taluks.

House collapse

Thirthahalli, Sagar and Hosanagar taluks in Shivamogga district continued to receive good rains throughout the day. The house of an anganwadi worker collapsed in Gandhinagar Layout, Sagar town.

Beesanagadde village in the taluk was completely flooded and the road to the village is cut-off due to heavy showers. Shivamogga and Bhadravathi also received good rains.

With rain continuing to lash Kalasa in Chikkamagaluru district, the water-level in Bhadra river has increased drastically. Two-foot-high water flowed on Hebbole bridge connecting Kalasa and Horanadu. The movement of vehicles has been suspended on the stretch. The rivers and rivulets are full in Kalasa.

Bhagamandala flooded

Efforts continued to retrieve the lorry which had fallen into River Varada at Naganur in Haveri taluk. The task could not be accomplished due to the rise in the water level. The intensity of rain subsided in Kodagu. Normalcy has returned to the flooded Bhagamandala.

Sea erosion intensified in Bettampady in Ucchil, Peribailu, Seeroad, Mukkachery and Someshwara in Dakshina Kannada district.