The Hindu : Karnataka / Belgaum News : Life hit, rivers in spate in many districts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 05, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Belgaum

Life hit, rivers in spate in many districts

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, AUG. 4. Several old trees have been uprooted here following heavy rain for the past one week. Many roads repaired only last year have been damaged.

However, the rain has brought smiles to the faces of farmers. The district had been in the grip of drought with no or poor rainfall for the past three years. For the first time in the history of the district, the administration had to engage railway wagons to transport drinking water to villages in Athani, Chikkodi and Raibag taluks.

Fisherman missing

Our Karwar Correspondent writes:

Uttara Kannada district has been receiving heavy rain for the past three days. A fisherman is said to be missing in the sea at Bhatkal.

Large-scale sea erosion has been reported at Pavinkurve village near Honnavar. The in-charge Deputy Commissioner, Nirvanappa, visited the village with the officials of the Port Department on Tuesday. He promised the villagers to write to the department for constructing a breakwater to prevent sea erosion.

The water level in Gersoppa Dam is 54.5 metres as against the full level of 55 metres. The project authorities have decided to release water from the reservoir intermittently. People in low-lying areas have been asked to be alert in view of the possible flooding of the Sharavati.

The water level in Supa Reservoir has risen to 530 metres as against the full level of 564 metres. The Gundbala rivulet in Honnavar taluk is overflowing and houses on the banks are surrounded by water.

Haliyal and Mundgod taluks, which have been reeling under drought for three year, have received good rain. They received 118.8 mm and 84 mm of rainfall, respectively, in the past 24 hours. Sirsi received 71.5 mm, Supa 145 mm, Yellapur 105.6 mm, Bhatkal 83.8 mm and Kumta 83.4 mm.

Rescue steps

Our Sirsi Correspondent writes:

The monsoon has intensified in the four taluks in Sirsi sub-division. According to official sources, Siddapur taluk received a record rainfall of 110.4 mm. on Tuesday. Sources in the tahsildar's office said steps had been taken to protect people in Mogavalli village on the banks of the Varada. Boats had been kept to ready to rescue people. Paddy cultivation is in full swing in all taluks.

Schools closed

Our Chikmagalur Correspondent writes:

The Education Department has directed schools in rain-hit areas of Chikmagalur to close down for two days. Basavaraj was electrocuted when he stepped on a live wire, which dropped down when a tree fell on it, near Kolagur, 15 km from here, on Wednesday

Life has been affected in the Malnad area of the district following the rain in the past two days. The Tunga, the Bhadra and the Hemavathy, which originate in the district, are in spate. Vehicular traffic has been affected in parts of Mudigere, Koppa and Sringeri taluks.

The district administration has been finding it difficult to obtain information on the rain damage as telecommunication services have been affected. The telephone of the Public Works Department in Chikmagalur has been disconnected as the bill has not been paid.

Kigga in Sringeri taluk recorded the highest rainfall of 318 mm followed by Basarikatte in Koppa taluk with 232 mm in the past 24 hours. Chikmagalur received 53.4 mm, Kadur 22 mm, Koppa 126.6 mm, Mudigere 96 mm, N.R. Pura 71 mm, Sringeri 150.4 mm and Tarikere 70 mm.

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Life hit, rivers in spate in many districts