Torrential rains continue in parts of Karnataka, rivers in spate

Team Udayavani, Sep 21, 2020, 2:26 PM IST

Bengaluru: A majority of rivers in Karnataka are in spate due to torrential rains for the past few days inundating many villages, submerging houses, vehicles and destroying standing crops.

According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), all the dams are full to the brim due to the heavy downpour resulting in their floodgates being opened.

“Opening the floodgates has led to flooding in the regions in the downstream. We have sounded an alert in many areas but still, some villages will face the problem,” said a KSNDMC official.

According to the sources in the water resource department, Cauvery, Hemavathi, Kapila and Harangi rivers were flowing above the danger level.

The sources also said the floodgates of the dams on these four rivers have been opened.

“We have released 40,000 cusec water from the KRS today. We have alerted people in the downstream,” an official in the Water Resource Department said.

Similarly, rivers in north Karnataka and interior Karnataka are also wreaking havoc.

The important dams there Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Almatti and Narayanapura are full to the brim.

The situation in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district in coastal Karnataka remained grim, which is receiving heavy rains since Friday night.

Udupi suffered the worst damage, with the rains leaving a trail of destruction in many taluks, resulting in losses amounting to crores of rupees.

A team of NDRF personnel from Mangaluru reached Udupi on Sunday to assist in relief operations, as instructed by Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary.

Many areas in Udupi, including the ”Rajangana” at the Sri Krishna Mutt, shops and business establishments, parking areas and godowns were submerged in water.

Road connectivity to different parts of the district were lost. Hundreds of people were evacuated from their houses in flooded areas by the NDRF personnel.

The two rivers in the district, Swarna and Sitanadi, were flowing above danger levels, official sources said.

A total of 31 relief camps were opened in the district.

Udupi Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesha visited the affected areas and gave instructions into the personnel involved in rescue efforts.

In Dakshina Kannada district, several houses and buildings were submerged and vehicular movement was disrupted in many parts due to the rains during the last two days.

Mangaluru and Bantwal taluks received the highest rainfall in the district.

Five relief camps were opened in the district and 1,250 people were shifted to safer places on Sunday, official sources said.

The KSNDMC has informed that the rains will continue for the next two days and warned fishermen against venturing into the sea.