Flood threat looms large over Bellary district

Rivers swollen, villages cut off due to heavy showers since Monday night; gruel centre to be opened

In Shimoga, two houses collapsed due to heavy rains. However, there was no loss of life. In Tumkur, crops were destroyed and several huts collapsed and one person died in a wall collapse.

Surrounded by the water, the villages in Bellary, Siraguppa, Sandur and Hospet taluks have been cut off from the world outside. Apart from Hagari and Tungabhadra rivers, all streams and tanks have been overflowing following the incessant rain between 11 pm on Monday and 5 pm on Tuesday.

Muddatanur and Gundiganur in Siraguppa taluk and Hosagenikehal in Bellary have been cut off. Gundiganur has turned virtually an island as a nearby tank covering over 300 acres has been overflowing, inundating the surrounding fields. Village residents fear that the tank may breach at any point of time. Memories of three days last October when the tank breached leaving them stranded have returned to haunt them.

Besides, Ballapur, Dammur near Kuragod in Bellary, Kudadral, Nagalapur, Accholli in Siraguppa and many other villages on the bank of swollen Tungabhadra are also under the flood threat. The Hagari bridge between Kudadral and Andhra Pradesh is under water.

Rivers including Hagari, Tungabhadra and tanks at Kolur, Muddatanur and Gundiganur are flowing above danger mark, destroying the standing crops in the waterlogged fields. The paddy saplings meant for planting have also washed away in some of the fields. Heavy rains resulted in the collapse of 29 houses in Haveri, injuring four persons.

Rescue operation

Gruel centres have been opened at ST Colony and primary schools in Muddatanur. Zilla Panchayat President N Rudragowda, CEO Muttayya and Vice-President Manjamma said efforts are on to send food packets to the residents of Gundiganur, Hosagenikehal and other villages.

A high-level committee formed to assess the damage will submit a report within a week, they said. Siraguppa received record rainfall of 142.4 mm; Bellary 40.6 mm; Hospet 40.2 mm; Kudligi 40.1 mm ; Sandur 62.2 mm; Karekuppa 45 mm and Choranur 38 mm.

Shimoga

In Shimoga, incessant rain continued to lash the district for third consecutive day due to which two houses collapsed in the City while tanks and canals breached in several places damaging the standing crops.

Two houses collapsed in Ragigudda area of the City as rain was unrelenting throughout Monday night. Bunds of tanks and streams have breached in Tirthahalli taluk due to which water has entered farm land in Kannangi, Baandekukki and Mandagadde. Water entered the houses in Abbalagere as tank in the outskirts of the village has breached.

Heavy rain paralysed the vehicular traffic in Bhadravati City as roads were inundated. Tirthahalli, Sagar and Sorab taluks also have received heavy rain. Linganamakki reservoir had 1,795.85 feet water against the maximum level of 1,819 feet. Inflow here has depleted to 5,334 cusec. Bhadra reservoir had 170.4 feet water with 5,036 cusec inflow.

Tumkur

A man was killed, crops were destroyed and several huts collapsed following heavy rains in parts of Tumkur district.

Thimmanna (60) was killed in a wall collapse incident in Roppa village in Pavagad taluk on Tuesday afternoon. He leaves his wife, a son and two daughters.

Tahsildar M N Manjunath, Circle Inspector Sheshadri and Inspector Govindraju visited the family.