Belagavi district is experiencing a renewed flood threat as relentless rains have resumed after a brief respite in the Maharashtra region. The district administration is on high alert, monitoring developments closely. On Friday, the water level in the Krishna River rose by one foot due to increased rainfall upstream in Maharashtra.
Inflow into the Krishna River has surged by 15,000 cusecs, reaching 2.95 lakh cusecs at its confluence near Kallol in Chikkodi taluk. This includes 2.4 lakh cusecs from the Rajapur barrage and 45,000 cusecs from the Doodhganga River. Significant rainfall has been reported in the Krishna River basin, with Mahabaleshwar receiving 135 mm, Radha Nagar 138 mm, Koyna 96 mm, Warana 95 mm, Navaja 131 mm, and Kalammavadi 79 mm in the last 24 hours.
Maharashtra’s Krishna basin reservoirs are releasing substantial amounts of water, intensifying the flood risk. Subhash Sampagavi, Assistant Commissioner of Chikodi, has urged residents in riverside villages to relocate to safer areas. Villages such as Gonnagar, Maradagi, Hampiholi, Bennur, Chikkatadasi, Hiretadasi, Avaradi, and Sangal are particularly at risk due to the release of 15,000 cusecs of water from the Navilu Teerth reservoir into the Malaprabha River.
Floodwaters have submerged a bridge near Bennur, impacting connectivity between Sureban, Kulageri, and Hoskeri. Heavy rains in Khanapur taluk have led to several feet of water flowing over bridges and barricades, cutting off road access to over 50 villages. Thousands have sought refuge in more than 50 relief centers set up across the district.