Maharashtra rains trigger floods in North Karnataka

Hubballi: North Karnataka is again facing the possibility of floods due to the heavy rainfall in neighbouring Maharashtra, just a month after the monsoons in the state left it devastated.

Although Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa recently met his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis, to find a solution to the  flooding caused by release of water into the state's rivers, over one lakh cusecs of water was released into the  Krishna river from 12 reservoirs of the neighbouring state on Thursday, putting North Karnataka at risk of floods. There was panic among the people living on the river banks in Kagwad, Athani, Raibag, and Nippani taluks in Chikkodi sub-division as the Koyna dam across the border released 87,338 cusecs into it.

The water level is also on the rise in Krishna's tributaries, Doodhganga, Vedaganga and Panchaganga. The Yaxamba-Dattawad, and Kallol-Yadur barrage-cum-bridges across the river have gone under water, disrupting traffic in Chikkodi taluk and the bridge between Shurpali and Jambagi villages has been submerged in Jamkhandi taluk. Around five villages have  almost been marooned.

SDRF men have been stationed in Belagavi as a precautionary measure and the deputy commissioner of Kolhapur district has reportedly warned the Belagavi district administration that the flow of water from Maharashtra could increase by more than two lakh cusecs due to the heavy rainfall in the Western Ghats.  In response,  Belagavi deputy commissioner, S B Bommanahalli has appealed to the people living on the bank of the river to move to  safer ground.

“The meteorological department has predicted heavy rainfall in Maharashtra over the next couple of days. The flow of water in the Krishna river could therefore  increase in three or four days. The district administration will help people move to safer ground. We have also formed rescue teams to come to their aid if need be,” Mr Bommanahalli said.