Flood situation grim in K'taka

Bangalore, Aug 12 (UNI) Four people have lost their lives in rain- related incidents since last night as a torrential downpour continued in large parts of Karnataka causing floods in major rivers and their tributaries.

Normal life was disrupted due to a heavy downpour and floods in the most affected districts like Chikmagalur, Belgaum and Shimoga.

A food warning was sounded and hundreds of people residing on the river banks were evacuated to safer places.

Official sources said three people, including a teenager, were washed away in swollen Malathi River near Megaravalli in Thirthahalli Taluk of Shimoga District.

A 60-year-old woman was killed when the wall of her house collapsed in Mangalore City while another person was killed in Kodagu District.

Major rivers like Krishna, Tunga, Bhadra and minor rivers like Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Doodganga,Vedganga and Hiranyakeshi were flowing above danger marks inundating more than 150 villages and large tracts of standing crops in districts like Shimoga,Chikmagalur, Belgaum, Bagalkot and Gulbarga.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced a relief of Rs 100 crore to each of the affected districts and ordered officials to take up relief works on a war footing.

''Funds will not be a constraint to carry out relief works,'' he said in a statement last night.

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