Rivers and streams in the district swelled on Wednesday following heavy rain, paralysing traffic at many places.
Water-level in the Tunga raised following downpour in its catchment areas. The traffic between Shimoga and Tirthahalli along National Highway 13 was suspended after the road near Mandagadde submerged. The nests in Mandagadde bird sanctuary were washed away.
Movement of vehicles between Shimoga and Shikaripur came to a halt after the bridge across Tarlaghatta stream submerged. The Sharavathi too was flowing on the bridge near Billodi village.
Traffic along the Agumbe ghat too was disrupted following a tree-fall. Rainwater entered a few houses in Ilyas Nagar locality in Shimoga city.
Water is being released at the rate of 72,000 cusecs from the Tunga reservoir, near Gajanur. As the outflow is likely to increase, the tahsildar has asked people in low-lying areas to move to safe places.
The Varada was flowing above the danger mark and paddy cultivated on 1,100 acres in Talaguppa hobli limits was inundated. Water-level in the Linganamakki reservoir has gone up by 5 ft in 24 hours. On Wednesday, the water-level was 1,773 ft with an inflow of 63,912 cusecs. The water-level in Bhadra reservoir was 138 ft against the full-reservoir level of 186 ft. An inflow at the rate of 7,884 cusecs was recorded here. Water-level in the Mani reservoir was 578 metres with an inflow at the rate of 10,000 cusecs. Mastikatte received 395 mm rain, Hulikal 393 mm, Mani 292 mm and Agumbe 283 mm.
