The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Rains kill four, floods in several districts

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Wednesday, Aug 08, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rains kill four, floods in several districts

Karnataka Bureau

Major rivers in spate, all the crest gates of Linganamakki and Tungabhadra Reservoir opened

PROBLEM OF PLENTY: For the second time in one month, the Hemavathi waters entered Holemalleswara temple on the outskirts of Sakaleshpur in Hassan district even as rains lashed the district on Tuesday.

BANGALORE: Four persons died and hundreds of families were rendered homeless as torrential rains continued to lash several districts in the State on Tuesday. Several major rivers in the State were flowing above the danger mark at several places. Crest gates of major reservoirs such as the Linganamakki, Tungabhadra and Krishnaraja Sagar were opened following heavy inflow. The deaths were reported from Raichur, Haveri, Dharwad and Shimoga districts. Holiday was declared on Tuesday and Wednesday for schools and colleges in several districts.

Life in Hassan district was affected and over 50,000 cusecs water was released from the Gorur Dam since Monday night. On Monday noon, 46,000 cusecs of water was let out from the dam.

Holiday was declared for schools and colleges on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Two shops in Hassan were completely damaged when the side wall of a two-storey building collapsed damaging two shops. Since it happened late on Monday night, there were no casualties. In three days, Hassan received 16 inch rainfall and Hanabalu hobli received 32 inches while in Achhanahalli and Devalakere, it was six inches from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. The water-level in the Hemavathi River has risen by 14 feet for the second time in one month in Sakleshpur taluk and water entered Holemalleswara temple on the outskirts of Sakleshpur. Belur and Alur received maximum rain.

One drowns

A person drowned in the floodwaters of Tungabhadra in Kengal village of Sindanur taluk in Raichur district on Tuesday. Several riverside villages in Sindhanur and Manvi taluks were flooded after heavy discharge of water from the Tungabhadra Dam.

According to reports reaching here, Karilingappa (45), a native of Kengal village, was washed away in floodwaters when he entered the river to take bath on Tuesday.

Sources in the Irrigation Department, Munirabad, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the authorities concerned had to release more water into the Tungabhadra owing to receipt of heavy inflow.

The water in Tungabhadra Dam had crossed the danger mark because of heavy inflow since Monday night. The inflow, which was at two lakh cusecs on Sunday, rose to 2.50 lakh cusecs on Monday night.

All the 33 gates of the dam were opened on Tuesday.

Hediginal in Sindhanur taluk was marooned while the water level had risen to the danger level in most of the riverside villages, including Valbellary, Sambasivapura Camp and Mukkunda villages in Sindhanur taluk, and Chikalparvi village in Manvi taluk.

The bridge linking Kampli and Gangavati in Bellary district has been closed for vehicular traffic. In addition, Tungabhadra waters had inundated the fort area at Kampli.

At Hampi, the world heritage site, the water level in the river was on the rise and the Purandara Mantap, adjacent to the Vijya Vithala temple housing the world-famous stone chariot, has been submerged.

With the Tungabhadra, Kumudavati and Varada rivers in spate in Haveri district following incessant rains since Saturday, 2,392 acres of farmland has been submitted and two villages have been marooned.

One dies in wall collapse

So far, one death has been reported in the district because of house collapse.

The name of the victim has been given as Chanabasavva H. Anweri of Kurtakodihalli in Byadgi taluk. The zilla panchayat has declared holidays for schools for two days in the wake of the floods.

Rain fury continued in Kodagu district causing extensive damage as official reports confirmed that five head of cattle were lost in Mutlu and Hammiyala villages, near here. Bhagamandala and Talacauvery areas remain cut off for the third consecutive day from the rest of the district following submergence of roads.

Educational institutions will remain closed for the third day on Wednesday following torrential rains.

The water level at the Harangi reservoir stood at 2,859 feet, the same as its maximum level on Tuesday.

Another death

Incessant rain has weakened several houses in Dharwad district and some of them have partially collapsed. Close on the heels of the death of four persons of a family in a house collapse, a disabled person lost his life after the roof and a wall of his house collapsed on Monday night.

The police gave the name of the victim as Iranna Shivappa Uppin of Kurdikere village near Hubli. There are reports of houses being partially damaged in various part of the district. At least three houses in the old areas of Hubli were damaged on Tuesday.

Toll rises

The toll in Shimoga district as result of the rain fury has risen to five with one more death being reported on Tuesday. An 11-year-old girl Yashoda at Hosakavali in Shikaripur taluk died when a wall of her house collapsed on her. Her mother Indiramma was injured seriously and has been shifted to McGann Hospital.

All schools and colleges in Shimoga district remained closed on Tuesday as a precaution.

The excess water was being released from the Linganamakki Reservoir after the water level was hardly one foot below the danger mark.

All the crest gates were opened on Monday after it reached the level of 1,818.40 feet against the maximum level of 1891 feet. There has been no let up in the rain and reports of damage to private as well as public property continue to pour in.

Extensive damage

Three persons died in wall collapse caused by heavy rains in Davangere district in the last two days.

Deputy Commissioner Dyaberi, who took presspersons to rain-hit places on Tuesday, said over 10,000 acres of paddy and arecanut plantation had been affected by floods. He said that over 90 houses in Harapanahalli, 75 houses in Harihar, 32 houses in Channagiri, 30 houses in Honnali, 10 houses each in Davanagere and Jagalur had collapsed because of rain.

People in over 20 villages situated in Tunga Badra river basin had been shifted to safe places.

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