Flood situation turns grim in Karnataka

Bangalore, Aug 12: Four persons have been killed in rain related incidents since last night as torrential rains continued to lash large parts of Karnataka causing floods in major rivers and their tributaries.

Normal life was disrupted due to heavy downpour and floods in the most affected districts like Chikmagalur, Belgaum and Shimoga. Flood warning had been sounded, while hundreds of people were evacuated to safer places along the rivers which threatened to submerge their villages in different districts.

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 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 rivers 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.

Most of the reservoirs, except Linganamakki across Sharavati, the major hydel power source, had reached their full levels. Due to heavy rainfall in Maharashtra and Goa, Krishna and its tributaries were in spate. At Koyna Reservoir across the river in Sangli district of Maharashtra, authorities released about 1.60 lakh cusecs of water.

Downstream Alamatti Reservoir in Bagalkot District was filling up fast. Nearly two lakh cusecs of water was being let out from the reservoir after the authorities decided to open all the 28 crest gates.

The level stood at 518.40 m against the full level of 519 m. The inflow was 1.59 lakh cusecs while outflow was raised to 2.21 lakh cusecs.

Train services between Mangalore and the city was suspended following landslide between Yedakumeri and Siribagilu since yesterday.

Schools and colleges had been closed for two days from today in various places in Belgaum, Kodagu, Chikmagalur and Hassan Districts, officials said.

UNI