Death toll mounts to 17, people's struggle continues

Bangalore, Aug 17 (UNI) Life in Northern Karnataka continues to be out of gear with people in several villages struggling in knee deep water, even as the death toll in the flood-ravaged areas rose to 17.

The water level in rivers Krishna and Bhima continued to recede slowly, with roads and bridges cleared for traffic. However, people in some parts of Belgaum, Bijapur and Gulbarga districts found the going tough as their houses were either in knee deep water or damaged by the flood waters.

Two women, hailing from Kasaragod in Kerala, were feared washed away while crossing an overflowing dam across river Shire near Bendra Thirtha in Dakshina Kannada district last evening. Their bodies were yet to be traced. A 35-year-old man was washed away while crossing a rivulet near Kullur village in Gulbarga district last night. So far, six people each have died in Gulbarga and Dakshina Kannada, two each in Bijapur and Belgaum and one in Bagalkot district.

Authorities have initiated steps to prevent the possible outbreak of epidemic in the affected areas, even as people have started moving out of relief centres to the villages.

Meanwhile, heavy rain continued to lash coastal Karnataka and Ghat areas.

A Bijapur report said there was marginal increase in the inflow into river Bhima as discharge from Ujjini and Veerbhatkal reservoirs in Maharashtra was stepped up due to fresh rains in the catchment areas. The level at Dulkhed rose to 8.5 m from yesterday's seven m.

The authorities put the loss due to floods in Bhima during the past one month at Rs 35 crore. Standing crops in nearly 4,400 hectares were destroyed and 61 villages affected. Work on permanent shifting of Dasur, Akali and Tarapur villages had commenced.

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