River Bhima in spate; Flood alert issued

Gulbarga, July 31 (UNI) A flood alert has been sounded to people living along the banks of river Bhima here following torrential rains in the catchment areas of Maharashtra and release of heavy water from the Ujjini and Veerbhatkal dams in that State.

Official sources said the district administration had taken measures to evacuate people from over 43 villages in six taluks.

Sources said 1.30 lakh cusecs of water were being let out from the Ujjini dam and about one lakh cusecs from Veerbhatkal dam this morning and it was expected to reach the district this evening.

Over two lakh cusecs of water are expected to flood river Bhima by tomorrow.

A Disaster Management Committee meeting reviewed the flood situation and directed the officials concerned to take all precautionary measures in the low lying areas. Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pande and Superintendent of Police Manish Karbikar participated in the meeting.

Flood Relief Operations in-charge Rivendra Reddy told UNI that all precautionary measures had been taken in the low lying areas of Afsalpur, Gulbarga, Jewargi, Yadgir, Shahapur and Chitapur, facing flood threat.

He said 19 flood relief centres would be set up in the flood-hit areas. A round-the-clock control room had been set up to provide flood related information to the public.

Karnataka Disaster Management Cell Secretary Latha Krishna Rao told UNI that relief camps were equipped with drinking water, food, medicines, medical teams, veterinary inspectors and fodder for cattles.

She said river Krishna was also receiving heavy discharge of water from Maharashtra, flooding some parts of Belgaum district. The district administration had shifted 30 to 40 families in Gokak taluk to safer places. From Alamatti reservoir, over two lakh cusecs of water were being let out and people living in low lying areas in Gulbarga and Raichur districts have been issued flood warning.

UNI DP-MV GD PR BD1631