Rains claim eight lives in Karnataka

Atleast eight persons were killed as heavy rains continued to lash various parts of Karnataka for the fourth day on Wednesday.

Government officials said three persons were washed away in Malathi river near Theerthahalli in Shimoga district while five others were killed when their houses collapsed in Bidar, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts of the state.

Even as the authorities were busy evacuating people residing in low-lying villages in many parts of north Karnataka fearing their flooding by the rivers, which were flowing in spate, the release of more than 220,000 cusecs of water from Koyna reservoir in Maharashtra caused alarm among the officials in downstream Belgaum.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa directed officials to gear up for flood relief operations and open sufficient gruel centers in the flood-affection regions of the state particularly Belgaum district, which has been put in a state of high alert.

The Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) have been alerted and told to be ready in case of emergencies to evacuate people from marooned villages.

Most of the rivers in the state had swollen on account of the heavy rains lashing various parts of the state during the last four days. River Krishna was flowing above the danger mark in Belgaum, Bagalkot and Bijapur after release of excess water from Koyna reservoir.

The swollen rivers had flooded vast tracts of agricultural fields and villages in many parts of the state. The Shimoga district administration had to evacuate more than 100 families from the villages of Imambada and Seeghatti, which had been inundated due to water from river Tunga.

The dams built across most rivers in the state were nearing their full reservoir level due to copious inflow arising out of heavy rains in the catchment areas. Irrigation Department authorities have alerted people residing in low-lying areas downstream of Linganamakki, Narayanapura, Alamatti and KRS reservoirs in the state to move to safer places with their livestock.

Irrigation department authorities said they will have to open the crest gates of the reservoirs if the water level nears the brim.

Meanwhile, the railway authorities have cancelled the Bangalore-Mangalore train until further notice on account of a landslide taking place along the route.
The train service on the route will resumed after the debris that had fallen on the railway track is cleared.