There was a marked improvement in the flood situation in some parts of Hyderabad Karnataka with rainfall pounding the region for the past five days showing signs of petering out.
However, there is still a threat of floods in villages on the banks of the Bhima and its tributaries in Gulbarga and Yadgir districts. The district authorities have sounded a warning in the villages along the banks of the Bennethora and Bhima.
Connectivity between Gulbarga and Sedam, and Gulbarga and Chittapur has been restored after the Kagina’s floodwaters receded.
The areas were cut off on Sunday with the bridges at Malkhed in Sedam taluk and Dandoti in Chittapur taluk submerged by the floodwaters.
However, floodwaters that entered the Uttaradi Math — where the famous Brindavana of Jayatirtha, who is also known as Teekacharya, is located — on the banks of the Kagina are yet to recede. The Brindavana was still under water till late on Monday evening. Deputy Commissioner N.V. Prasad told The Hindu in Gulbarga city on Monday that standing crops on more than 15,270 hectares had been totally destroyed, resulting in a loss of around Rs. 17.5 crore in Gulbarga district.
In Bidar, the district received around 120 mm rainfall in two days, around 15 per cent of the total annual average rainfall. As per initial estimates, crops on around 1,900 acres of land have been damaged.
The flood situation has also considerably improved in the Bombay-Karnataka region. There were no rain-related reports in the districts.
Meanwhile, farmers staged a protest at Byadgi in Haveri district on Monday seeking compensation under the crop insurance scheme in addition to calamity relief.
A review meeting, chaired by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H.K. Patil, in Gadag on Monday resolved to seek a special compensation package for Gadag district, which has suffered severe crop damage owing to rain and floods.
(The Hindu)
