ANANTAPUR: More than 25,000 motor pump-sets and thousands of acres adjacent to the Tungabhadra river have been submerged following heavy floods from the Tungabhadra dam and the Krishna tributary in Kurnool district.
Standing crops were affected by the floods that also cut access to many localities including the urban areas in Vijayanagar and Raichur districts of Karnataka.
The authorities lifted 31 gates of the dam and released 1.55 lakh cusecs as outflows, which was followed by 1.64 lakh cusecs of inflows from upstream parts of the Western Ghats. Water storage is maintained at 96.83tmc-ft in the reservoir as against the actual capacity of 100.40tmc-ft.
Heavy inflows filled the Sunkesula reservoir and the irrigation authorities discharged excess water from the reservoir.
Official sources said motor pump-sets were being used by farmers to draw water from Tungabhadra sources. These sets are fixed in the middle of the river -- from Kowthalam to Kurnool city outskirts. Now, they might get damaged in view of the floods. Farmers are trying to remove the pump-sets to avoid a loss.
Kowthalam, Kosigi, Mantralayam, Nandavaram and C Belagal areas adjacent to Tungabhadra riverbed have been sounded an alert over possible rise of the water levels in the river. The Gangamma temple in the Mantralayam temple town was submerged as the river was flowing above the danger mark.
After 1.15 lakh cusecs of outflows was recorded, the situation was one of panic in many areas. Chances of even 2.50 lakh cusecs of outflows existed if heavy flow of floodwaters continued from the upstream parts.
In Vijayanagar district of Karnataka, the TB water cut access to several urban and rural areas on Monday. TB dam authorities closed a bridge at Munirabad. Kampli bridge was also closed. The TB board released water towards the high-level main canal.
