Persistent rainfall in Belgaum district, coupled with heavy showers in the Western Ghats and southern Maharashtra, has caused significant flooding in the region, according to officials. As a result, 34 villages have been cut off, with 17 low-level bridges submerged continuously for the past 48 hours.
Belgaum Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhimashankar Guled stated on Sunday that due to heavy rainfall causing inundation of bridges in the district, police personnel have been stationed to prohibit people from crossing. Despite warnings, some residents persist in risking their lives by attempting to cross the flooded bridges using tractors and motorcycles. To avert accidents, authorities have barricaded both ends of the bridges and stationed personnel round the clock.
He added that approximately 10 bridges in Belgaum and seven in the Chikkodi division are presently submerged, leading to the isolation of thousands of villagers in the 34 affected villages. The increased water levels in rivers such as Krishna, Vedaganga, Dudhganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Markandeya have caused low-level bridges to overflow, according to an official statement.
Chikkodi Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi has alerted residents along the Krishna, Vedaganga, Doodaganga, and Hiranyakeshi rivers to be cautious as heavy rains have caused these rivers to overflow, potentially leading to spreading water levels.
She emphasized the need for caution among people living along the Krishna River, especially with increased inflows due to heavy rainfall in southern Maharashtra.
In another development, more than 10,000 acres of agricultural land on the outskirts of Belgaum city have been flooded due to the overflowing Ballari canal, located approximately one kilometer from the airport road. This area, renowned for producing high-quality “Belgaum Basmati rice” for export, is experiencing significant crop losses. Farmer Prakash Karadi from Kudachi village lamented losing an estimated 50% of his premium Basmati paddy crop due to prolonged waterlogging caused by the floods. The inundation has severely affected paddy fields in Gandhi Nagar, Basavana Kudachi, Angol, Vadagavi, and Majagon areas.
In the district, more than 300 houses have collapsed either partially or completely. The district administration has set up temporary shelters and provided essential supplies to assist those affected. Belgaum Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan has imposed restrictions on heavy vehicle movement on several roads in Khanapur taluk, connecting Goa and Belgaum districts, due to concerns over old bridges. However, alternative routes are available, according to DC Roshan.
Rahul Shinde, CEO of Belgaum Zilla Panchayat, inspected several flooded bridges and assured that the district administration is prepared to manage potential floods, particularly in the Krishna River area. “With the inflow into the Krishna river reaching 1.25 lakh cusecs, residents along the riverbanks have been advised to stay vigilant. We have also made arrangements for alternative accommodations for those affected,” CEO Shinde confirmed.
Kallappa Kamble, a social worker from Amagoan village, reported, “A woman experiencing chest pain was transported through a dense forest road and then transferred to an awaiting ambulance by the riverbanks.” He mentioned that due to the overflow of the bridge connecting nearby villages and Khanapur town, they carried the woman on their shoulders for a distance of 2.5 kilometers.
