Maharashtra Rain Fury: Krishna Swells with 1.10 Lakh Cusecs Outflow; 20+ Belagavi Villages Put on Flood Alert
Belagavi: A severe flood threat looms over the border district of Belagavi following relentless heavy rainfall in the Western Ghats and the catchment areas of neighboring Maharashtra. With major rivers, including the Krishna, flowing well above the danger mark, the district administration has swung into action. Following a high-level emergency meeting chaired by Belagavi District Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Roshan, a ‘High Alert’ has been sounded across the district to tackle any impending crisis on a war footing.
Maharashtra Rain Fury: Major Rivers Swell
Incessant downpours across nine key talukas in Maharashtra have caused reservoirs in the neighboring state to reach their maximum capacity, forcing authorities to discharge massive volumes of water into interconnecting rivers. Consequently, Belagavi’s lifelines—the Krishna, Dudhganga, Vedganga, Ghataprabha, and Malaprabha rivers—are overflowing dangerously. The situation is equally grim in urban and semi-urban pockets; heavy local rains in Belagavi city and its fringes have caused the Markandeya river and the Ballari Nala to swell to alarming levels.
Heavy Inflow into Reservoirs:
- From Koyna Dam: Maharashtra has discharged a staggering 1.10 lakh cusecs of water into the Krishna River via the Rajapur Barrage, escalating the flood risk for riverside villages.
- Hidkal Dam: Currently recording an inflow of 21,000 cusecs.
- Naviluteertha Dam: Currently recording an inflow of 13,000 cusecs, with water levels rising rapidly.
20+ Villages Put on Flood Alert; 10 Bridges Submerged
The sudden and massive surge in water levels has prompted the administration to issue strict flood alerts for over 20 vulnerable villages across the Kagwad, Chikodi, Raybag, and Athani talukas. Residents living along the riverbanks have been strongly advised to evacuate to safer locations immediately. Already, 10 low-level bridges and barrages in the district are completely submerged under water. Authorities have blocked these routes and mapped out alternative roads to ensure the continuity of essential traffic. Meanwhile, a strict ban has been imposed on the public and livestock venturing near the swelling riverbanks.
War-Footing Preparedness: Disaster Management Infrastructure
To mitigate loss of life and property, the district administration has deployed dedicated rescue teams and established a robust safety net across affected talukas: Rescue & Relief Asset Deployment Details Care Centers (Kalaji Kendragalu)397 relief centers identified and equipped with food, drinking water, and medical supplies. Rescue Personnel5 SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams and 9 specialized Fire and Emergency Services teams deployed. Evacuation Boats41 mechanized boats kept on standby for immediate evacuation operations.
Strict Warning to Officials; Police Deployment Intensified
District Commissioner Mohammad Roshan has issued a stern warning to government officials regarding negligence during this crisis:
“No official is permitted to leave their designated headquarters under any circumstances. Public grievances must be addressed instantly. Any negligence or dereliction of duty will invite stringent legal action under the Disaster Management Act.”
— Mohammad Roshan, Belagavi DCEnsuring ground-level safety, City Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase and District Superintendent of Police (SP) K. Ramarajan stated that heavy police bandobast has been deployed near all submerged bridges and flood-prone zones to restrict public movement. Tahsildars and officials from the engineering departments are monitoring the situation round the clock via 24/7 control rooms to handle any emergencies swiftly.