Rising river levels submerge 3 bridges; several villages isolated

Deccan Herald

3 days ago

Haveri: The water level in the Varada and Tungabhadra rivers is steadily rising due to heavy rains in the Western Ghats and locally in the Haveri district. As a result, three bridges have already been submerged, forcing residents of six villages to use alternative routes for their daily commute.Heavy rains in the upstream districts of the Western Ghats have caused water from the Varada and Tungabhadra rivers to flow into Haveri. Continuous rainfall in the district has also contributed to the increased water flow in these rivers.With rising river levels, three key bridges have gone underwater, disrupting road connectivity and raising concerns of flooding in nearby villages.In Haveri taluk, the small bridge across the Varada River between Naganur and Koodal villages is submerged, prompting residents to use longer alternative routes. Similarly, the bridge connecting Kalasur to Devagiri via Kolur in Savanur taluk has been submerged for several days. Earlier, villagers could reach Haveri within minutes using this bridge, but are now forced to travel for hours via alternative routes.In Hanagal taluk, the road from Lakmapur to Balambid has also been cut off as the Varada River floods over a small bridge. Locals are again relying on alternative roads to get by.The region experienced a similar situation in 2024 when excessive rainfall in the Western Ghats caused the Varada and Tungabhadra rivers to flood, affecting several villages, including Neeralagi, Savur, Chikkalingadahalli, and Konanathambagi. Floodwaters entered parts of these villages, and many residents were temporarily relocated to relief centres. Locals fear a repeat of that situation this year.Rainfall updateBetween 8:30 am on July 8 and 8:30 am on July 9, the district received 0.77 cm of rainfall, which is 16.67% higher than the average expected 0.66 cm for the period.However, cumulatively from July 1 to July 9, rainfall is still 19.20% below normal. The district was expected to receive 4.74 cm of rain, but has recorded only 3.83 cm so far, according to the Meteorological Department. Better rainfall is expected in the coming days.Among taluks, Byadgi, Ranebennur, and Rattihalli have received above-average rainfall, while Hanagal, Haveri, Hirekerur, Savanur, and Shiggaon remain below average.Damage reportHeavy rains and strong winds across the district have caused damage to 55 houses. Of these, 19 houses have been officially approved for compensation after inspections, while 22 applications were rejected for various reasons. Verification is still pending for 14 houses.Additionally, five buildings associated with schools and anganwadis have sustained damage. An estimated loss of Rs 299.55 lakh has been reported due to damage to 2,043 electric poles, 24 transformers, two high-tension towers, and 4.39 km of power lines.