Flood situation grim; River Bhima crosses danger mark again

Bangalore, Aug 9 (UNI) The flood situation in Karnataka was grim with water level in river Bhima crossing the danger mark for a second time in a month and river Krishna and its tributaries in spate following Maharashtra increasing discharge of water from its dams as torrential rains continued to wreak havoc in that state.

Several villages in Belgaum, Gulbarga and Bagalkot districts of north Karnataka face the threat of inundation.

A report from Gulbarga said river Bhima crossed the danger mark for a second time within 20 days following discharge of 2.56 lakh cusecs from Ujjini and Veerbhatkal dams in neigbhouring Maharashtra.

At present 1.63 lakh cusecs was flowing into river Bhima and it was likely to go up tonight following the heavy discharge which had already reached upstream Bijapur district.

Officials said the Gulbarga district administration was fully geared up to meet the flood situation. People of about 40 villages on the banks of river Bhima had been asked to move to safer places and fishermen warned to keep away from the river.

Boats and rafts had been kept ready to evacuate people, if necessary. Animal Husbandry officials had started administering vaccination for cattle in flood-hit areas.

The water level in the Narayanapur dam, built across river Krishna, maintained at 403.72m. The inflow was three lakh cusecs and the same amount was being released downstream Jurala dam in Andhra Pradesh.

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