Bengaluru (Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday issued a series of directions to senior officials as floodwaters from the Krishna and Bhima rivers continued to affect Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgir and Vijayapura districts. Heavy rainfall in Kalaburagi and water releases from Maharashtra’s Ujani and Neera reservoirs have raised alarm across low-lying villages.
CM orders urgent flood response
Chairing a high-level meeting with ministers and bureaucrats, Siddaramaiah instructed Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and district officials to maintain strict vigilance and ensure swift rescue and relief deployment.
“The Deputy Commissioners and Panchayat CEOs of the affected districts must personally visit flood-hit areas and take emergency measures,” Siddaramaiah said, according to a statement from his office. He also directed District In-Charge Secretaries to immediately tour the affected regions and review the situation with local administrations.
Inter-departmental coordination stressed
The Chief Minister emphasised the importance of accountability and coordination across departments. He specifically instructed Secretaries of the Rural Development Department and Additional Chief Secretaries of the Water Resources Department to assess ground realities and support district administrations.
“Precautionary measures must be taken so that there is no loss of human lives, livestock, and animals,” Siddaramaiah underlined during the meeting.
Relief measures on ground
Following his orders, district administrations have started shifting vulnerable families to safer locations. Schools and community halls are being converted into temporary shelters, while fodder supply for cattle has been prioritised. Rescue teams equipped with boats are patrolling submerged villages, particularly in Kalaburagi’s Bennethora area.
Revenue department officials confirmed that relief centres are being set up to accommodate displaced families. “Our focus is on both people and livestock, as farmers are worried about their standing crops and cattle,” they said.
Farmers’ concerns grow
Several villagers have expressed deep concerns over crop loss and the safety of their animals, with agricultural fields already inundated. Many fear that extended rainfall and further water discharge from Maharashtra reservoirs could worsen the situation.
Officials monitoring the upstream catchment areas warned that persistent rainfall could escalate the crisis further. Emergency teams have been kept on standby for immediate response.
Conclusion
With north Karnataka districts already grappling with rising waters, the state government’s priority is to safeguard lives and livestock while ensuring adequate relief. The situation remains critical, with authorities maintaining close watch on rainfall patterns and reservoir discharge levels in neighbouring Maharashtra.