Raichur: Heavy rainfall in the catchment area of Krishna River led to increased inflow to the Basavasagar reservoir at Narayanpur in Yadgir district, necessitating the release of 1.07 lakh cusecs of water. This heavy discharge threatens to flood riverside villages in Raichur.The reservoir recorded an inflow of 1.1 lakh cusecs at 8am on Sunday. The authorities began releasing 1.07 lakh cusecs of water through all the 30 gates from 8am.The situation has triggered flooding concerns in Lingasugur, Devdurg, and Raichur taluks near the Krishna River. Residents in Karakalgaddi, Madaragaddi, Honkammanagaddi, and Yaragodi villages in Lingasugur taluk’s mid-river areas face difficulties. Local authorities have warned villagers to stay away from the river and advised those in mid-river areas to move to safer locations.The reservoir’s storage capacity is presently at 81%, and following the rainfall in the reservoir’s catchment area along with the heightened outflow from the Almatti dam, there was an inflow exceeding 1.1 lakh cusecs. At 3pm on Saturday, 84,445 cusecs of water were discharged. This amount has now risen to 1.07 lakh cusecs and is expected to increase gradually, officials cautioned.A significant volume of water has been flowing into the Krishna River from the Basavasagar reservoir since June 15. However, in Karakalgaddi, where the water level continues to rise, seven individuals, including children, along with two in Madaragaddi and three in Honkammanagaddi, as well as sheep and cattle, are stranded.“The groceries we purchased 15 days ago are almost over. We are facing uncertainty,” lamented Dyamanna Ammapura, a resident of Karakalgaddi.Addressing the situation, Basavanneppa Kalashetty, assistant commissioner, said a team, comprising taluk-level officials, was already set up to manage the flood situation. “Officials are actively engaging with villages along the riverbanks to enhance awareness. Those who are still in Karakalgaddi will be moved to safety,” he said.
