Bangalore, August 2;Two persons died since Thursday as unabated rainfall swelled rivers in different parts of the State. Roads, bridges and farming fields were flooded, dams overflowed, crops and plantations damaged and normal life severely affected.
Manja, a labourer, died on Friday of injuries he sustained when a compound wall collapsed on him at Kumtoor in Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu district on Thursday.
In Chikmagalur district, another labourer Papaiah (57) was killed when the wall of his house on him while he was asleep, at Ambedkar Nagar in Narasimharajapura taluk on Thursday night. Sringeri MLA D N Jeevaraj handed over a cheque of Rs 1.50 lakh to his family.
Deluge in Sakaeshpur
Non-stop rainfall in the last three days has devastated crops and buildings across the taluk. Hemavathi river, flowing above the danger mark, inundated parts of the town. More than 60 buildings were marooned for 50 hours.
Eshwarahalli village received a record 250 mm of rain in 24 hours, washing away paddy sown in 80 acres. Standing paddy crops on thousands of acres at Hanbalu, Hettur, Esalur, Belagodu and other villages have been washed away. Besides, landslide consumed many coffee estates and areca nut plantations. Ginger, cardamom and pepper crops also suffered extensive damage.
Gusty winds, coupled with unrelenting rain, brought down at least 400 electricity poles across the taluk, according to Chescom. Several villages have been without electricity as the supply network was ruptured.
Sakleshpur MLA H K Kumaraswamy said crops and property worth more than Rs 100 crore have been damaged. Several roads were virtually washed away while bridges and culverts could collapse any time, he added.
Kodagu
Villages in Kodagu district faced power outages following uprooting of trees. Traffic was disrupted on the flooded Bhagamandala-Napoklu-Madikeri road. The district administration has opened gruel centres in Siddapura. Fearing floods, holidays have been declared for schools and colleges on Saturday. The inflow of water into Harangi reservoir was 12,836 cusecs and outflow 3721 cusecs.
Chikmagalur
Low-lying areas were inundated at Uggehalli, Kesavalalu and Banakal in Mudigere as water level rose sharply in Hemavathi river. Bridges at Hyragudde, Urubage, Bankenahalli, Sabbenahalli and Gonibeedu were flooded.
Life has a slow return to normalcy at Albadi village in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district following the 20-minute storm in the small hours on Thursday.
Shimoga
Roads, bridges and farming fields remained submerged and normal life was thrown out of gear. Almost all rivers overflowed and dams filled to brim.
Traffic between Shikaripur and Shiralakoppa was suspended as the road near Shikaripur town was flooded by an overflowing Kumudvathi river.
Nearly 15,000 paddy fields at Beesanagadde village in Sagar taluk remain submerged as Varada river flowed above the danger mark. Similarly, areca nut and banana plantations were inundated in Sorab taluk as Dandavathi river also flowed above the danger mark.
The inflow into Linganamakki dam was 88,925 cusecs. As many as 37,234 cusecs of water is being released from the dam. At Bhadra dam, the inflow was 70,630 cusecs and outflow 60,131 cusecs. The new bridge in Bhadravathi town was submerged following the discharge from Bhadra dam.
Schools and colleges remained closed in Bhadravathi and Shikaripur. Bhadra river has created a flood-like situation in Holehonnur. The inflow of water into Tunga dam was 64,681 cusecs and outflow 63,822 cusecs as Tunga river is flowing above the danger mark. People living in areas close to the river have been directed to move to safer places.
Belgaum, Chikodi
Following decrease in water levels, three bridges/roads in Raibag and Athani taluks were opened for traffic.
Water inflow into the State from Rajapur barrage in Maharashtra was 1.47 lakh cusecs. Water discharge from Hippargi barrage was 2.06 lakh cusecs and Almatti dam 1.46 lakh cusecs.
Water levels in Krishna and Doodh Ganga rivers receded by about three feet along the river basin in Chikodi taluk. The inflow in the State is expected to go up as heavy rains lashed southern Maharashtra and catchment areas of the rivers.Fifteen roads and bridges continue to flooded by rivers. Three roads — Siddapur-Khemlapur and Khemlapur-Shirgur in Raibag and Tangadi-Ainapur in Athani taluk — were opened for traffic on Friday.
