one killed in house collapse in Gulbarga

Bangalore, Aug 14(UNI) One person was killed in a house collapse in Allagi-B village in Gulbarga district of Karnataka as the water level of the river Bhima, which as in spate, started receding.

In all five people had lost their lives in Gulbarga due to the floods in the river caused by excess relese from the reservoirs in Maharashtra following heavy rains. More than 3400 people were sheltered in relief camps in the district, officials said. As many as 27 villages were under water following the floods.

Sources described the situation as still grim. The pump house which supplied drinking water to Gulbarga city, situated at Saragadi village in Gulbarga taluk on the bank of Bhima river was also submerged resulting in disruption of water supply to over six lakh people in the town. The vehicular traffic at Devalgaon bridge connecting Gulbarga with Bijapur district and the Kattisangavi bridge on the Bidar-Srirangapatna state highway have been suspended following waters of the Bhima crossing the danger mark in both the places. Over 3.25 lakh cusecs of water let out in the river following discharge of water from three dams in Maharashtra state.

The district authorities have recommended the state government to shift the entire Aurad-K village which was most vulnerable to Bhima waters and submitted a praposal for the same.

According to Bijapur report the Bhima river which wraught havoc in the the district was reportedly receding following a respite rains in its catchment areas in Maharashtra state. Over 11350 people were given shelter in 31 relief camps Indi taluk, where six villages were completely submerged and other 14 villages were partially affected with crops in 12625 acres of agricultural land damaged. The water level in Alamatti reservoir was being maintained at 514.14 m with 3.34 lakh cusecs of water let out from the dam. So far three people were killed in the floods in Bijapur district while thousands of acres of agricultural land damaged. The flood situation continued to be alarming the sources added.

The water level of the river Thungabhadra, which was also in spate following incessant rains in its catchment areas in Chickmagalur, Shimoga and Bellary districts during the last couple of days was receding.

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