16 Belagavi villages cut off due to heavy rain

As many as 16 villages were cut off from neighboring villages as 10 bridges and dams were flooded in Belagavi district on Wednesday.

Due to rain in Belagavi district and parts of Maharashtra, water levels in Dudhganga, Vedganga, Hiranyakeshi, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha and Markandeya rivers in the district are increasing.

Farmers complained that their kharif crops were damaged in many taluks.

District administration officials are preparing for possible flooding in the Krishna basin. Around 300 villages have been identified along the banks of the Krishna river and its tributaries where relief centers could be established.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan and other officers visited some riverside villages on Wednesday. He said every effort was being made to be prepared for possible flooding.

“Each department concerned has been asked to prepare rapid response teams. These will act in coordination with the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force units,” he said.

“Rainfall in the district has exceeded the average annual rainfall of around 250 to 400 mm. Nine out of 15 taluks received average or more rainfall. We are ready to absorb any increase in water discharge from Maharashtra or sustained heavy rainfall,” he said.

He said the joint crop loss survey would begin soon.

Meanwhile, water discharge from Maharashtra crossed 1.21 lakh cusecs. This is nearly 14,000 cusecs more than Tuesday’s 1,07,028 cusecs. It is likely to increase as heavy rain continues to lash parts of Maharashtra.

The flow in Almatti dam increased to 1,26,373 cusecs on Wednesday.

However, the output remains low at 483 cusecs to ensure adequate storage.

While the full capacity of the dam is 123 tmcft, it is only around 33 tmcft.

Raja Lakhamagouda reservoir has around 11 tmcft of water against the full capacity of 51 tmcft.

While the inflow was 26,393 cusecs, the outflow was only 110 cusecs.

The inflow at Renuka Sagar dam in Malaprabha increased to 13,700 cusecs, while the outflow was 194 cusecs.

The dam has 6.9 tmcft of water against its full capacity of 37.73 tmcft.