Mangaluru, 3 August

Rising water levels in the Nethravathi river following incessant rainfall in the Western Ghats inundated several low-lying areas in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada, forcing authorities to evacuate residents from flood-prone localities as a precaution.

Floodwaters entered more than 15 houses in low-lying areas, including Panemangaluru and Aladkapadpu, prompting officials to shift affected families to safer locations.

The body of a 48-year-old man who was swept away by a river near Rayi in Bantwal taluk on Saturday was recovered from the Sangabettu area on Monday, officials said.

The deceased was identified as Jeevan Pinto.

Meanwhile, heavy rains in the Cauvery catchment areas pushed the water level at Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir past the 100-ft mark on Monday, reaching 100.34 feet against its full capacity of 123.80 feet. The reservoir gained nearly 8 feet in three days due to increased inflows.

The dam is receiving 32,048 cusecs of water, while 1,821 cusecs is being released. The storage stands at 23.079 tmc ft against its total capacity of 49.452 tmc ft.

The rise has brought relief to farmers in Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts dependent on Cauvery irrigation. Meanwhile, Kabini reservoir in Mysuru district reached full capacity, prompting the opening of all four crest gates and release of 25,000 cusecs of water. 

Flood alerts were issued for villages along the riverbanks. In Kodagu, heavy rains caused the Cauvery to overflow, affecting roads and inundating parts of the Bhagandeshwara Temple premises at Bhagamandala.

Heavy rains in the Western Ghats and parts of Maharashtra have triggered a sharp rise in the Krishna River’s water level, submerging the bridge near Kudachi in Belagavi district’s Raybag taluk. 

Authorities have closed the Jamkhandi–Miraj State Highway after water started flowing over the bridge. The bridge, connecting Kudachi in Karnataka with Ugar Khurd in Maharashtra, is a key inter-state route used by hundreds of buses and vehicles daily. 

Kudachi police have barricaded both ends and banned traffic movement. Commuters have been diverted through alternate routes, adding nearly 50 km to their journey.