Hubballi: A torrential downpour in Maharashtra has triggered the threat of a flood in several villages in Belagavi and Bagalkote districts and other parts of the Krishna basin.
On Friday, the Almatti dam received an inflow of 2.05 lakh cusecs forcing officials to release more than equal quantum of water into the Narayanpur dam downstream through all the 26 crest gates. The present water level in Almatti dam is 518.41 meters as against its maximum capacity of 519.60 meters with storage of 123.081 tmcft in the reservoir. Several standing crops, including maize and sugarcane, have been affected owing to overflowing water in north Karnataka.
The bridge, connecting neighbouring Maharashtra between Yaksamba-Danawad villages in Chikkodi taluk, has been completely submerged. Thousands of people are put to hardship as the backwater of the Hipparagi barrage has reached the brim. Movement of vehicles between Jamkhandi and Miraj has been suspended as both Doodhganga and Vedganga rivers are in spate. The officials have warned that the situation will worsen if the flow of water continued for the next 2-3 days. Part of Ingali village in Chikkodi taluk has been submerged forcing the officials to shift more than 25 families to safer places. The river Krishna is in spate as Koyna, Mahabaleshwar, Varana and Navaja region in Maharashtra have received heavy rainfall over the last few days. Besides, five bridges are submerged in Rabakavi-Banahatti and Mudhol taluks of Bagalkot district. “The villagers have been alerted through beating drums, urging them to move to safer places along with their cattle. Adequate police personnel have been deployed at bridges in Dawaleshwar, Nandagaon, Mirji, Channal and Jaliberi to prohibit movement of vehicles due to the flood situation in Ghataprabha river. We have formed separate teams to face the floods”, said Sanjay Ingale, tahsildar of Mudhol.
The flood threat is looming in 22 villages on banks of the Krishna in Jamkhandi taluk. The district administration has brought rescue boats and summoned expert swimmers from Uttar Kannada district as precautionary measure. Officers have also deployed boats to ferry people to safety. Stating that the administration has geared up to face the flood situation, according to Prashant Chanagond, tahsildar of Jamkhandi.
