North Karnataka villages affected after water released from Maharashtra’s Koyna dam

Bengaluru: Thousands of villages in north Karnataka were hit by the release of over 2 lakh cusecs of water from Koyna dam in neighbouring Maharashtra. According to sources, five districts — Belagavi, Bagalkot, Raichur, Vijayapura and Yadgir have been badly affected by the swollen rivers Krishna, Malaprabha, Markandeya and a few other rivulets. Roads have been inundated, while in some places railway tracks were damaged due to soil erosion in Belagavi district. Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa reviewed the situation in the region and conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas on Monday (August 5).

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning stating Karnataka would receive heavy rainfall in different parts of the state. Kodagu is on high alert. Following the warning from the IMD, the deputy commissioner of Kodagu, Annies Kanmani Joy, has issued red and orange alerts in the district.