25 houses damaged in Belgaum

BELGAUM: As Malaprabha river is swelling due to incessant rains in its catchment area in Khanapur taluk, five bridges and roads — four in Ramdurg and one in Savadatti taluk — have been submerged.Traffic has been closed since Friday taking the tally of the closed roads and bridges in the district to 25.The monsoon has so far claimed two lives — Krishnabai Talwar of Kavatkop village in Athani taluk and Supiyan Mehaboob Pirjade of Hirekodi village in Chikkodi taluk.Roads between Ramdurg and Belgaum and Ramdurg and Konnur and bridges between Avaradi and Bennur and Rankalkop in Ramdurg villages and Sultanpur bridge in Savadatti taluk remained closed for public movement as Malaprabha river is overflowing.Meanwhile, 25 houses - 20 in Belgaum and five in Khanapur collapsed partially on Friday.As Malaprabha (Munavalli) reservoir with 37.70 TMC capacity is overflowing, Ramdurg Tahasildar Geeta Koulagi, as a precautionary measures, has appealed people of Haletorgal, Sunnal, Turmur, Rankalkop, Kilabanur, Doddamangadi, Bichagandi, Halagatti, Hulagop and Maradagi villages and Kagigalli to move to safer places as water may release at any movement.15 families residing on the banks of Malaprabha have been shifted to Ashraya houses.10,500 cusecs of water has been released from the reservoir as against 14,500 cusecs released on Thursday.Water level in Malaprabha reservoir has crossed its capacity by 0.3 TMC ft.Ghataprabha reservoir with 51 TMC ft is also flowing excess by 0.17 TMC and the Irrigation department has released the entire inflow of 22,498 cusecs to the river.Since the rains have receded, Maharashtra released 1.63 lakh cusecs on Thursday — 1,45,916 cusecs from Rajapur reservoir and 6,119 cusecs from the Koyna reservoir.Malaprabha in SpateBAGALKOT: Though water levels in the Krishna and Ghataprabha receded in Jamakhandi and Mudhol taluks, flood struck hundreds of villages of Badami taluk in the district as the Malaprabha river has started swelling since Thursday.Release of water from Naviluteerth reservoir has caused this situation.As a result, standing crop in more than 40 villages have been destroyed .Aalur SK, Haagnur and Govanakoppa villages, which are in low-lying regions are likely to be marooned if the situation continues.The bridge near Konnur has been submerged and traffic on NH-218 in Bagalkot-Bijapur-Solapur stretch has been stopped.People urged railway authorities to provide more trains to reach Gadag and Hubli.Deputy Commissioner A M Kunjappa said that three villages in Badami taluk are hit by floods; as no water was released from Naviluteerth on Friday the situation is under control.He added that assessment of crop losses will take place soon