Heavy rain disrupts normal life

BELAGAVI

Incessant rainfall for the past four days in Belagavi and across the district disrupted normal life. Low-lying areas are getting waterlogged as pre-monsoon rain in such areas wasn't expected. One girl died in a house collapse in Gokak, while the Belagavi-Goa route via Chorla was halted after the submersion of Kasamalagi Bridge. Continuous rain caused the water level in the Krishna and its tributaries to rise, submerging low-lying bridges and disrupting traffic. Water flowing onto the road from gutters constructed in the Belagavi Fort Road area caused severe disruption to traffic. Citizens expressed their anger over the corporation administration's failure to take any permanent action despite the fact that water from the gutters constructed in this area overflowed onto the road every time, obstructing traffic. Heavy rain also hit Savadatti, Bailhongal, Kittur and other towns of district. A road safety wall along with the road collapsed on the road leading to Shendur in Nippani taluk, bringing traffic to a standstill. The gram panchayat development officer informed that the road, including the retaining wall, was damaged due to the presence of a well near the road.

People are afraid that if they take this road, their vehicles may skid into the well. Continuous rains in the Western Ghats led to a significant increase in river flow, leading to increased water levels in the Krishna and its tributaries. Three bridges in the lower reaches of the Vedaganga riverbed have been submerged, cutting off communication between the villages of Barwad-Kunnur, Sidnal-Kunnur, and Akkol-Signal in Nippani taluk. Due to heavy rains in the Western Ghats, water level in Malaprabha River increased in Khanapur taluk. The alternative road on the Belagavi-Goa route was washed away by the water flow near the under-construction Kasamalagi Bridge, bringing road traffic to a standstill.