JAMKHANDI (BAGALKOT DISTRICT): The overflowing Krishna on Monday flooded two more villages in Jamkhandi taluk even as district administration clamped prohibitory orders to speed up the evacuation process.

The water-level in the Alamatti Dam was reduced to 515.84 m from Sunday's level of 515.95 m. The inflow increased to an all-time high of 4.13 lakh cusecs, while the discharge from the dam was slightly reduced to 4.48 lakh cusecs from Sunday's rate of 4.51 lakh cusecs.

Despite the slight fall in the reservoir level, the backwaters rose by a foot in the past 24 hours flooding Madanamatti and Naganur villages. With this, the number of severely flood-affected villages in Jamkhandi taluk alone has risen to 26.

With the river expected to rise further, the district administration decided to evacuate all those staying in marooned areas and people in low-lying villages that face a flood threat.

Though boats were sent to evacuate marooned habitations, people were reluctant to leave saying that they could not abandon their cattle. The administration, therefore, clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. In places such as Kankanwadi, Jambagi BK and Chinagundigadde, the police used force to get the people on board the boats. Army personnel and Home Guards are also helping to evacuate people to safe places.

Deputy Commissioner K.S. Prabhakar, who is camping here, told The Hindu that as many as 88,000 people have been evacuated. Most of them are staying with relatives, and 15,000 people have been housed in relief camps.

He said 17,500 cattle have been shifted from low-lying areas, but thousands of cattle are still trapped in some marooned habitations. They cannot be ferried on normal boats and large barges are needed. Efforts are on to construct barges using empty barrels. If the efforts do not succeed, arrangements will be made to feed the trapped cattle, he said.

In all, 83 villages have been affected by floods in Bagalkot district, and initial estimates put the loss at Rs. 90 crores. The State Government has been asked to release Rs. 40 crores for relief measures, Mr. Prabhakar said.

The flood situation in the backwater areas of the Narayanpur Reservoir continues to be grim as the authorities are not in a position to reduce the discharge from the upstream Alamatti Dam. Koodalasangama and other places continue to be flooded.

Bhima recedes

Meanwhile, floods receded along the Bhima giving some comfort to the people. The floodwaters have come down by a metre from Sunday. The river, however, is flowing well above the danger mark, and the authorities are not ruling out a further increase in the level.

Minister for Animal Husbandry Mirajuddin Patel, who is in charge of Bijapur district, on Monday toured some of the affected villages on the banks of Bhima along with Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mohsin. He disbursed an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 50,000 to the family of a person washed away in the floods at Hatthalli.

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