Incessant Rains Batter Karnataka; Flood Threat Looms as Reservoirs Near Capacity

Relentless rainfall has wreaked havoc across Karnataka, damaging crops, disrupting road connectivity, and raising flood concerns as major reservoirs approach full capacity. The heavy downpour, affecting districts like Dharwad, Gadag, Davangere, Haveri, and Uttara Kannada, has prompted authorities to evacuate residents to relief centers as a precautionary measure.

Heavy inflows from upstream Maharashtra have caused the Krishna River to swell, submerging the Sheelhalli bridge and severing road access to villages like Kaddaragaddi, Yarigodi, and Hanchinal. Villagers now face a 45-km detour via Jaladurga to reach taluk headquarters. Despite high-alert warnings, videos surfaced online showing individuals recklessly washing bikes on the flooded Sheelhalli bridge, ignoring the Krishna River's dangerous levels.

The Malaprabha river basin in Belagavi has also been hit hard, with a viral video capturing a biker narrowly escaping after being swept away while attempting to cross a flooded bridge. Locals had warned against the dangerous crossing, highlighting the risks posed by swollen rivers.

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In Bidar, flooding reached the sanctum of the Anantha Padmanabha temple, underscoring the severity of the situation. BJP MLA Sharanu Salagar reported in the Assembly that extreme rainfall has devastated crops across 1.21 lakh hectares, including toor dal, black gram, and soybean, with significant cattle losses. He urged the government to provide at least Rs 25,000 in relief to affected farmers and form a committee to assess crop damage, criticizing the lack of insurance compensation.

Several reservoirs are nearing their limits, raising flood risks. As of Wednesday, the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre reported storage levels at:

• Almatti dam: 123.08 TMC (full capacity)
• Tungabhadra dam: 76.91 TMC (capacity 105.79 TMC)
• Krishnarajasagar (KRS) dam: 47.73 TMC (capacity 49.45 TMC)
• Narayanapura dam: 33.31 TMC (full capacity)

Authorities have opened all 30 gates of the Basavasagar dam and 17 gates of the Gurusanagi Barrage in Yadgir to manage heavy inflows from Maharashtra. In Uttara Kannada, the Linganamakki reservoir reached its maximum level of 1,816 feet, prompting controlled releases of 15,000 cusecs, with warnings issued for downstream areas if outflows exceed 50,000 cusecs.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts widespread rainfall across Karnataka until August 25, with heavy showers expected in coastal districts like Udupi and Uttara Kannada, and light to moderate rain in northern and southern interior regions, including Bengaluru. Winds of 30-50 kmph are likely, with Bengaluru expected to see cloudy skies and light rain, with temperatures between 27-28°C and 19-20°C.

On August 26, heavier showers are predicted for coastal areas and parts of Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Yadgir, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. The persistent rainfall, combined with full reservoirs, heightens the flood threat, particularly along the Krishna and Bhima rivers, where large water releases from upstream dams continue.

The heavy rains have caused widespread disruption, with damaged homes and farmland reported across multiple districts. In Chikkamagaluru, Sringeri, Mudigere, and Koppa taluks recorded heavy rainfall, prompting caution for travelers in the Charmadi ghats. Schools and colleges in Shivamogga were closed due to extreme weather conditions.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with disaster response teams on standby. The combination of relentless rains, overflowing reservoirs, and strained infrastructure underscores the urgent need for effective flood management and relief measures to support affected communities, particularly farmers facing significant losses.

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