JOIN USWater levels in River Krishna and its tributaries continue to flow above the danger mark, flooding the agricultural lands on their banks.
The fear of floods haunts residents from villages in Chikodi, Raibag and Athani taluks. Water inflow into the State from Maharashtra increased to over 2.2 lakh cusecs and the discharge from Almatti dam was increased to 2.54 lakh cusecs to prevent flooding due to the backwaters on Saturday.
Small Scale Industries, Muzrai and Sugar Minister Prakash Hukkeri took stock of the flood situation at Chikodi on Saturday. He said, the first priority of the administration was to save human lives and livestock and all measures had been taken to rescue people trapped in their houses in agricultural lands. Crop losses would be assessed later.
Water levels were not at the danger mark, like in 2005 and 2006. Water discharge had been increased from Almatti dam and it would be further increased to three lakh cusecs, he said.
“Our officials have been coordinating with their counterparts in the neighbouring state. Information regarding release of water from dams in Maharashtra is being shared and discharge here has been in proportion to the inflow,” Hukkeri said.Deputy Commissioner N Jayaram said 60 boats had been kept ready for rescue works and 15 more had been requisitioned from Karwar. Requests for defence personnel and choppers had been sent earlier. Help desks were operational and people were being provided with the required information.
Coordination with officials in Maharashtra had been good and recently a meeting was held at Kolhapur. The current situation was not panicking and water levels in the rivers could recede by Sunday as the levels had receded in Sangli, he said.
Meanwhile, residents continued their efforts to shift their livestock from sheds in agricultural lands to villages for safety.
Increased water levels posed difficulties to them in taking the livestock to safety.
Heavy outflow
More than one lakh cusecs of water was released from all the 33 crest gates of the Tungabhadra reservoir, following heavy increase in inflow since Friday night. The inflow was 97,008 cusecs.
Five crest gates were opened on Saturday morning, in addition to the 28 that are already open.
The water level in the dam stood at 1632 feet on Saturday, against the maximum level of 1633 feet.
Many monuments in Hampi and other places on the banks of the river were submerged. The tahsildar has directed that residents on the banks of the river should move to safer places, along with their livestock.
Man dies in house collapse
Raju Manickyam, 45, died when his hut collapsed near the Chowdamma temple of Belagutti village near Nyamathi, following heavy rain on Friday night.
Fourteen sheep belonging to D Nagaraja died in a house collapse incident at Malligehalli. A total of 26 houses were partially damaged in the district, including seven in Honnali taluk, 11 in Channagiri taluk and eight in Harapana.