9 killed as flood ravage K'taka

Bangalore, Aug 13 (UNI) At least nine people were killed in rain related incidents today as flood situation remained grim in several districts of Karnataka.

Torrential rains, under vigorous Southeast Monsoon, lashed Chikmagalur, Kodagu, Mysore, Shimoga, Dakshina and Uttara Kannada, Haveri, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Dharwad and Belgaum districts badly affecting normal life.

Schools and collges reamined closed for the fourth day today in these districts.

Almost all rivers in the state, including Krishna, Tunga Bhadra and Cauvery and more than 25 of the tributaries and minor rivers were flowing above the danger mark.

Flood warning had already been issued downstream of the major rivers as authorities started releasing huge quantity of water from dams.

All major reservoirs, excepting Sharavati in Shimoga district, had reached their full levels.

About 50 villages were marooned in flood waters while thousands of acre of standing crops washed away.

Revenue officials said eight people were killed in two incidents in Dakshina Kannada and another died in Uttara Kannada district.

In a tragic incident, six people were washed away when flood water engulfed a mini hydel power plant near Uppinangady.

They were all labourers hailing from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.

Three bodies had been fished out of water downstream.

Two more people were killed in the same district when a wall collapsed on them in Mangalore City. They had gone to take shelter in a pump house amidst heavy rains. The duo were identified as Ashraf and Shariefulla, both labourers hailing from West Bengal.

Another person was washed away near Sirsi in Uttara Kannada District while returning from his fields.

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