Continuous heavy rains in Belagavi district and southern Maharashtra have pushed six major rivers: Krishna, Markandeya, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Vedaganga, and Doodhaganga, above danger levels, triggering severe flooding. As a result, nine key bridges went underwater on Monday night, cutting off access to at least 18 villages, most of which are located in Chikkodi taluk.
Low-level bridges over the Krishna, Vedaganga, and Doodhaganga rivers were submerged, including Akkol-Sidnal, Jatrat-Bhivashi, and Bharawad-Kunnur on the Vedaganga, Karadaga-Boj, Bojwad-Kunnur, and Malikwad-Dattawad on the Doodhaganga, and Eksamba-Dattawad, Kallol-Yadur, and Bavanasoudatti-Manjari on the Krishna. In Khanapur taluk, the Markandeya river also overflowed onto a bridge following heavy showers in the Western Ghats.
The Doodhaganga river remains a major concern as the Malikwad-Dattawad bridge has submerged for the sixth time in two months. Authorities said that several villages have been isolated, with students and farmers struggling due to disrupted transport and halted movement of agricultural produce.
On the dam front, water releases have been stepped up to manage rising inflows. From the Markandeya dam, outflow increased from 4,000 cusecs on Monday to 5,500 cusecs on Tuesday, while the Malaprabha dam, just two feet below its maximum level of 2079.50 feet, saw discharge raised to 9,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs the previous day. Meanwhile, the Krishna River’s inflow has already touched 67,000 cusecs.
With more rains forecast, the Chikkodi Tahsildar has urged residents in low-lying areas to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel as rivers continue to flow above danger marks.
