Karnataka - Madikeri   

Flood situation turns grim in Kodagu

Staff Correspondent

Talacauvery records 375 mm of rainfall in one day; Cauvery on spate

A DELUGE: Only the roof of the bathing ghat is seen at the Sangam at Bhagamandala in Kodagu district. Heavy rains continued in the district for the fourth day on Tuesday.

Madikeri: The Cauvery is touching the danger mark at various places in Kodagu with incessant rains in the district for the fourth day on Tuesday. Talacauvery received 375 mm of rainfall in 24 hours (from 8 a.m. on Monday). This is said to be a record amount of rainfall on one day in the past few years.

Bhagamandala is cut off from Madikeri and Aiyyangeri areas. Madikeri-Bhagamandala road is under five-foot of water and the Bhagamandala-Aiyyangeri road is submerged under six foot of water. Huge boulders have slipped at the View Point blocking the Bhagamandala-Talacauvery road.

Three electric poles have collapsed at the spot. Bhagamandala and surrounding areas have been without power for the last three days as are many other areas in the district.

Power supply was restored in Madikeri on Tuesday afternoon, yet there were frequent interruptions.

Napoklu-Hoddur road is cut off. A huge tree crashed at Bolibane blocking the road.

Cauvery is flowing at danger level at Kottamudi, Betri and Karadogidu. Three families at the low-lying Karadigodu had been asked to move to safe places.

Superintendent of Police K. Ramachandra Rao visited the spot on Tuesday. Huge expanse of paddy fields have come under water at Bhagamandala, Kadnur, near Virajpet, and many areas in the southern parts of the district.

The water level in the Lakshmanateerta is rising following heavy rains in Kutta and Srimangala. According to a senior citizen from Bhagamandala, for the first time in 50 years floods have occurred in the Cauvery in May. A large number of trees have crashed on roads at many places and there were reports of minor landslips.

Somwarpet received 52 mm of rainfall, Madikeri 106.4 mm, Bhagamandala 113.2 mm and Virajpet 185.8 mm rainfall in 24 hours beginning 8 a.m. on Monday. In the corresponding period last year, Somwarpet had not received any rain while Madikeri had received 1.5 mm, Virajpet 12.2 mm and Bhagamandala 17.6 mm.

Harangi Reservoir catchment area received 26.6 mm rainfall. The level in the Harangi Reservoir has reached 2,818.76 feet as against 2,788.69 ft. last year in the same period. The maximum level is 2,859 feet. Inflow on Tuesday was 3,912 cusecs while it was just 43 cusecs in the same period last year.

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Flood situation turns grim in Kodagu

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