Three die in rain related incidents in Hassan, Charmadi ghat closed for traffic

Hassan: The Hemavathy reservoir at Gorur in Hassan district of Karnataka has filled up fast owing to copious rainfall in the past week in its catchment areas. The water level in the reservoir stood at 2918.88 ft as against a full reservoir level of 2922 ft.

The full capacity of the reservoir is 37.103 tmc ft. The present storage is 34. 13 tmc ft, compared to 32.95 tmc feet this day last year.

The Hemavathy is a tributary of the Cauvery. Any excess water released from Hemavathy drains into the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir in Mandya district.

While the reservoir level is cause for cheer, the rains have left the roads torn to ribbons at many places. Several landslides have been reported on the Charmadi ghat road linking Dharmasthala, a popular pilgrim centre, with Bengaluru. Fears of more landslides forced officials to close the road till Tuesday.

The Public Works Department is currently working to remove the landslide rubble.

An elderly woman Ratnamma (70) was allegedly washed away while she was crossing River Somavathy in Mudigere and her body was recovered on Saturday. The incident occurred under Banakal police station limits in Chikkamagaluru.

There were reports of two farmers dying in Narashimaraja Pura (NR Pura) and Kadur respectively in Chikkamagaluru during the heavy rainfall last week. A farmer Shankar (40) allegedly drowned after he slipped into an overflowing stream at Gaddemane near Balehonnur in N.R. Pura while Parameshwara (38) reportedly got electrocuted after he stepped on a snapped electric wire at Jakkanahalli in Kadur.

A total of 417 electric poles were uprooted in N.R. Pura, Koppa and Sringeri taluks of Chikkmagaluru by heavy rainfall and officials concerned said that most part of the line restoration works have been completed and power supply would resume in affected areas in a couple of days.