Rains pound Belgaum; schools, colleges to remain closed today

Rains continued to pound Belgaum and Khanapura taluks in the past 24 hours, with schools and colleges declaring a holiday on Wednesday.

Flood threats loomed large over Chikodi, Raibag and Athani – despite the taluks receiving low rainfall – due to heavy discharge from dams and barrages in neighbouring Maharashtra.

A bridge across River Krishna at Kudachi in Raibag is submerged, cutting off a vital road link with Maharashtra.

In Chikodi, the water levels in the Krishna have increased by over three feet and residents in the villages on the banks of the river are moving to safer places.
Since July 19, water levels have risen by four metres in the Krishna and three metres in its tributary, Doodhganga. Rivers Vedganga and Panchganga too are swelling and flooding agricultural lands, sources said.

Water inflow into the State from Rajapur barrage in Maharashtra rose to 1.47 lakh cusecs on Tuesday and water discharge from Hipparagi barrage was 1.20 lakh cusecs.

Chikodi tahsildar Rajashekhar Dambal said rains had receded in Maharashtra, but the inflow into Krishna had increased by two feet. Nodal officials have been camping in the flood-prone villages, he said, adding that gruel centres would be opened in such places, if necessary.

The submersion of the bridge across Krishna at Kudachi has led to the closure of road for traffic. People were forced to use an alternative route via Ankali in Chikodi to reach Maharashtra. Police have barricaded the bridge.

On Tuesday, water levels in the river were at 12.76 metres near the bridge, just a couple of metres from the danger level. In the past 24 hours, Belgaum received 350mm of rainfall and Khanapura 309mm.

Gulbarga

Intermittent rains lashing the city for the past few days have thrown life out of gear. The main roads have been inundated and low-lying areas have been witnessing waterlogging. The rains damaged most of the roads that were already in a bad shape.

Recedes in Kodagu

Heavy rainfall that has been lashing Kodagu district for the last few days receded on Tuesday. Srimangala, Birunani, Gonikoppa, Somwarpet, Kushalnagar and Kodlipete received average rainfall. Landslides have been reported at a few places in the district.

While the Makkandur-Thanthipala road near Madikeri caved in on Monday, the Madapura-Soorlabbi road gave way on Tuesday, affecting vehicular movement. Farmers in the district are facing the threat of losing their crops.

On the other hand, rains gave a break in Dakshina Kannada district. The district has received an average of 16.6 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, sea erosion intensified at Tenka Yermal in Padubidri, Brahmavara and Kundapura in Udupi district. It has also intensified at Koteshwara in Udupi district.

Water from KRS

Half a tmc feet of water was released from the KRS reservoir in the taluk between Monday midnight and Tuesday afternoon. The water level stood at 123.67 feet on Tuesday evening. The storage was 47.50 tmc ft in the dam with a capacity of 49 tmc ft.