SALAR NEWS

Flood alerts issued in Karnataka as dams step up outflow

Authorities have issued flood warnings for areas along the Cauvery River.

Salar News

Discharge of water from KSR reservoir stepped up. Photo: PTI

Bengaluru, 18 Aug

Several dams released massive amounts of water after heavy rain pounded Karnataka on Monday. Several districts have issued flood warnings as officials asked people to evacuate from low lying areas and river banks.

KRS RESERVOIR

Authorities released 102,000 cusecs from the KRS reservoir in Mysuru. Intense rainfall in the Kodagu region and other catchment areas of the Cauvery River has caused significant inflow into the KRS dam.

Authorities have issued flood warnings for areas along the Cauvery River, urging residents to take necessary precautions. The release of water is a precautionary measure to manage the dam's water level and prevent potential damage.

Boating has been suspended at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary as river banks at Gosai Ghat, Nimishamba temple in Srirangapatna submerged. The dam had reached its full capacity in June, which was unusual for it.

ALMATTI RESERVOIR

Flood alerts were sounded in Vijaypura, Yadgir and Raichur districts after more than 1 lakh cusecs of water is set to be released from the Almatti reservoir on Tuesday or Wednesday. Heavy rains along the catchment areas of the Krishna River in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra filled the reservoir to nearly 119-tmcft of water.

Additionally, the Maharashtra government also released water from the Koyna dam – the largest reservoir in the Marathwada region – into the Krishna reservoir, further increasing the inflow to Almatti. The 105-tmcft Koyna dam held 95.5-tmcft of water on Monday.

The one lakh of water is expected to be released to the Narayanpur reservoir in Yadagir district either on Tuesday or Wednesday.

COASTAL KARNATAKA

Several educational institutions will remain closed on 19 August as heavy rains are expected to lash the coastal districts of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, northern district of Belagavi and malnad districts -- Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga.

District administrations issued high alert warnings and asked people to remain away from water storage places. The coastal district also barred fishermen not to enter into the sea.

HIDKAL RESERVOIR

With the Hidkal reservoir releasing 6,000 cusecs of water to the Ghataprabha and Hiranyakeshi rivers, the Belagavi district has warned of potential floods. Officials say nearly 20,000 cusecs of water may be released in the days to come.

The district administration issued a high alert and established temporary rehabilitation centres for residents.