Threat of fresh floods looms large over North Karnataka

Bangalore, Aug 7 (UNI) Even as people of the flood-ravaged North Karnataka districts are struggling to cope up with the havoc wreaked by the deluge last week, the Maharashtra government today issued a fresh warning that it may increase the discharge from its dams any time following incessant rain.

Officials in Belgaum, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur and Bagalkot districts, where over four lakh people had been affected during the first spell of floods, were keeping a close watch on the inflow into rivers Krishna and Bhima, which had been in spate following heavy discharge from Ujjini nad Veerabhatkal dams in Maharashtra last week.

People living on the banks of the two rivers were the worst-affected with the deluge destroying their property and standing crops in thousands of hectares.

A Belgaum report said the flood situation further improved in that district and relief work was being carried out. Officials had so far evacuated 5597 families from 69 affected villages in Athani, Raibag and Chikkodi taluks.

With the water level in river Ghataprabha receding, over 3000 people, who had taken shelter in relief centres, had returned to their homes.

Preliminary reports said the crops in 5,706 hectares had been damaged in Belgaum district due to inundation and heavy rains.

Property worth Rs 143.58 crore had been destroyed, officials said.

In Gulbarga too, the flow into Bhima had receded as it received 47,200 cusecs as against 63,400 cusecs recorded yesterday.

However, officials said they were expecting an increase in the inflow during the next 24 hours as rains continued to pound the neighbouring state. They were gearing themselves up to meet any eventuality, they added.

In Bijapur, authorities said the water level in both the rivers were likely to rise late tonight or tomorrow morning and cause fresh floods in Indi, Sindgi and Muddebihal taluks.

According to Bijapur Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Mohisin standing crops in 7,000 hectares had been destroyed in the three taluks in the last week's floods.

Water level in the Almatti reservoir across river Krishna was maintained at 517.08 m as against its full level of 519.6m. The inflow was 2.74 lakh cusecs and discharge 2.67 cusecs this evening.

UNI TEAM-RS RG HVB LL RN2138