For the second consecutive year, torrential rains in the south and interiors of Maharashtra have led to massive floods, destroying the crops and homes of over 40,000 people in about five districts in North Karnataka and leaving the B.S. Yediyurappa government feeling jittery.
Hundreds of villages in Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Belgaum and Raichur districts of North Karnataka have been left submerged. Over 35,000 people have been evacuated so far and further rescue operations by the NDRF are still on due to the flood situation remaining grim as the Bhima River continues to flow above the danger mark, according to government officials.
Sources in the Central Water Commission said that the Bhima River has been in spate since 14 October due to rains in Maharashtra and the release of water from the dams there. The river, which is a tributary of the Krishna, has left a trail of destruction in Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Yadgir and Raichur, which are also experiencing intermittent heavy rains.
According to sources, the Army and disaster response force personnel are engaged in evacuating people from flood-hit areas. Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) officials said that as many as 97 villages in the four districts are the worst-affected and people residing there have been shifted to safety. “So far, we have evacuated 36,290 people. We have opened 174 relief camps where 28,007 people are staying,” a KSNDMC official said.
Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga, Chief Minister Yediyurappa said that he has already held several rounds of discussions with the district administration of the affected areas and the situation is monitored by the revenue and home ministries. “I will be touring the affected areas and also go on aerial survey from 21 October for three days. The Prime Minister has personally called me to check on the rescue and relief measures and briefed me. We will do everything possible to address the situation,’’ BSY said. However, on being quizzed on monetary assistance from the Central government as against the estimate of damages worth Rs 38,000 crore and the demand from last year, BSY ducked the question and left, saying that he is in touch with the Union Home Ministry.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is on a three-day tour to North Karnataka, took the government on the issue. “People are homeless and their crops have been destroyed. Not a single rupee has been released for these homeless farmers. We have a very meek CM who doesn’t have the courage to demand money from the Union government. What is the use of having BJP governments at the Centre and in the state?’’ he asked, speaking to reporters at the Belgaum airport.
In Bengaluru too, the heavy downpour since Sunday night has resulted in waterlogging in some places. According to the India Meteorological Department, the city recorded 39.6 mm rainfall at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-based weather observatory in the 24 hour period ending 8:30 AM on Monday.