Flood levels in Krishna, Cauvery basins remain high

Bangalore, Aug 12 (UNI) Flood levels in Krishna and Cauvery rivers remained high, while heavy rains that battered districts coming under Western Ghats in Coastal Karnataka abated, giving a breather to the affected people.

Two persons were feared washed away in the swirling waters in the Raichur district coming under Krishna basin. The body of Huligeppa Hallimath (55), who was washed away while crossing a canal, was fished out in Sindhanur Taluk today.

Reports said heavy inflows continued from Maharashtra into Krishna and Bheema rivers that affected the normal life in North Karnataka, causing concerns downstream Andhra Pradesh.

Water levels remained above the danger mark in Krishna with Alamatti reservoir in the Bagalkot district receiving over 2.28 lakh cusecs. Same amount of water was released by opening all the 26 crust gates.

Downstream Narayanpur reservoir was receiving 2.39 lakh cusecs of water and nearly 2.4 lakh cusecs of water was being let out into downstream Jurala project in Andhra Pradesh.

Many villages were inundated and standing crops damaged in the flood waters of Bhima river in Gulbarga. Over 80,000 cusecs of water flowed down from Maharashtra into the district with level at Devalgoan bridge crossing the danger mark.

Tungabhadra river, the main tributary of Krishna, continued to be swollen with over 1.90 lakh cusecs being let out from Tungabhadra dam in the Koppal district into downstream Andhra Pradesh.

Flooded Cauvery and its tributary Kabini continued to cause concern in downstream Tamil Nadu despite heavy rain giving respite to the people of Kodagu district.

People in the hilly district of Kodagu, where Cauvery takes birth, gave away a sign of relief as torrential rains showed signs of abating. A number of landslips, roads being washed away, uprooting of trees and snapping of power lines made life miserable. The district had received a record rainfall this season-- the highest during the last 30 years.

Krishnaraja Sagar Reservoir across Cauvery near Mysore had an inflow of over 92,000 cusecs and most of it was being let out into the river.

Kabini taking birth in Wynad in Kerala, continued to get good inflows and about 25,000 cusecs of water was being let out from the dam near Beechnahalli in Mysore district.

The intensity of rain had reduced in Hassan, Shimoga and Chikmagalur districts in the Ghat areas.

UNI