A farmer lost his life when his cattle shed collapsed following incessant rains at Kyathanabeedu in Lakhya hobli of Chikkamagaluru district on July 23 morning. Basave Gowda, 65, and one of his bullocks died on the spot after a wall fell on them. He was about to take the bullocks outside the shed when the wall collapsed.
Heavy rains lashed many parts of Malnad region in Karnataka on July 23. Several residential localities in Sagar and Tirthahalli towns are flooded, forcing residents to remain indoors. Vehicular movement has been hit. Agriculture lands have been flooded, causing huge damage to farmers.
Agriculture land in Sagar taluk is flooded.
Inflow into reservoirs has been increasing, forcing officials to issue warnings to people residing in low-lying areas.
9 persons rescued
Many parts of N.R. Pura, Sringeri, Koppa and Mudigere in Chikkamagaluru district have been receiving heavy rains. The district administration rescued nine persons, including a four-month-old baby, stranded in flooded houses at Shettykoppa village in N.R. Pura taluk. They were rescued in a joint operation by Fire and Emergency Services, police, Forest Department and revenue officials.
With the help of a rope, three men, five women and the baby were taken to safety.
Towns flooded
Sagar MLA Hartal Halappa visited rain-hit areas of his constituency on July 23 morning along with officials. He instructed officials to take up relief works.
Residential localities alongside Agumbe Road in Tirthahalli are flooded. People have been forced to stay at home as the entire area is surrounded by water.
Tunga, Bhadra, Hemavathi, Yagachi rivers are in spate. Authorities have issued warnings to those in the downstream of the reservoir. The inflow into Linganamakki dam was 2,42,000 cusecs at 11 a.m. on July 23.
The waterfalls at Jog has regained its glory with the increase in rainfall in the Sharavathi valley.
The inflow to Hemavathi reservoir at Goruru was 20,871 cusecs on July 23 morning. The water level is inching towards the maximum level of 2,922 feet. On July 31 morning, the water level had risen to 2,910.68 feet.
Officials have issued a warning that the crest gates could be opened any time if catchment areas continue to receive rains.
Heavy rains have been reported in Talaguppa (267.4 mm), Anavatti (244.2 mm), Thyagarthi (198.8 mm), Hunchadakatte (131 mm) in Shivamogga district, Jayapura (123 mm), Sringeri (118 mm) and Kottigehara (107 mm) in Chikkamagaluru district, and in Hetthur (142.8 mm) in Hassan district.
CM directs Ministers, MLAs to oversee relief efforts
In the wake of heavy rains across Karnataka, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on July 23 directed all district in-charge Ministers and MLAs to help people affected by the rains.
The Chief Minister tweeted: “I direct all district in-charge ministers and MLAs to be present in their respective districts and constituencies to oversee rescue and relief efforts being carried out by district administrations”.
He told deputy commissioners of flood-affected districts to seek support from the government if necessary for undertaking rescue and relief measures.
“Spoke to DCs and reviewed the situation arising due to incessant rain in several parts of the state. State govt will extend all necessary support to the relief and rescue efforts, and assist farmers who suffered losses due to untimely rain and hailstorms,” he tweeted.
Later, following the inspection of various development works taken up across Bengaluru, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiyurappa said, “I have been monitoring the situation by being in constant touch with them over the past four-five days. There is no cause for worry right now. If necessary, I will even have a video conference with them later.” The respective district administrations are on high alert to prevent any loss to life and property, he said.
He said that Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol, who is in north Karnataka, had been directed to monitor the situation in the flood-affected areas till July 25. “We are ready to face any situation, with all help extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
Following a rise in water level in Krishna river, the Chief Minister spoke to the Deputy Commissioner of Belagavi district and directed the official to shift people and domestic animals situated on the banks of the river to safer places.
On July 20, he had reviewed the situation in 13 districts and told deputy commissioners and chief executive officers to take precautionary and relief measures.
On July 23, he directed officials of Kodagu, Ballari, Hassan, Udupi, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Mysuru, Koppal and Belagavi districts to utilise funds available in their accounts for undertaking relief work for people impacted by floods.
