By Team Mangalorean- Bangalore

Bangalore, Jul 29 : Flood situation loomed large in parts of Karnataka as heavy rains under the influence of Southwest monsoon continued to lash the state flooding several rivers and inundating low lying areas.

Rivers like Krishna, Tunga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Kabini, Bhadra and several minor rivers, including Dhupadala and Hiryanyakeshi, were in spate inundating several villages along their course.

At least five people have died in rain related incidents during the last 24 hours in the districts of Belgaum, Dharwad and Gadag.

Districts like Belgaum, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Bijapur and Mysore bore the brunt of bulging rivers, but no major damage had been reported so far.

Officials at Meteorological centre here predicted heavier rains in several parts of the state under the influence of low pressure areas developed on the either sides of the state over Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea.

Bangalore city experienced day long showers today which hampered the movement of traffic and inundation of low lying areas caused hardship to thousands of people.

Belgaum district has been experiencing continuos rains since three days.

Rains claim three lives

According to the official sources,  the incessant rains lashing parts of Karnataka have claimed three lives. "All the three deaths, one each in Davangere, Belgaum and Raichur reported yesterday were due to wall collapse. The houses were old and dilapidated", Revenue department officials said.

Rains continued to batter Belgaum District inundating low lying areas and three bridges in Raibag and Athani taluks. The district admininstration has warned people living in low lying areas to move to safer places, the officials said. Rains continued to lash Kodagu, Shimoga, coastal region and north interior Karnataka.

All safety measures were being taken in case of a natural calamity, the officials said.

Farmers protest against release of Cauvery water to TN

Farmers in Mandya district in Karnataka blocked the busy Bangalore-Mysore state highway to protest against the government's decision to release water from Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir across Cauvery to Tamil Nadu, while it had delayed release of water to the state's farmers.

Huge vehicular pile up was reported on either sides of the highway at Induvalu village in Mandya district, about 100 km from here, as farmers burnt tyres and protested against the decision of letting out water from KRS which was only half full due to delayed monsoon.

However, Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai, flatly denied that the government had ordered release of water to Tamil Nadu.

''We have let out 3,000 cusecs of water from KRS meant for drinking water supply to Mysore district and to enable filling of irrigation tanks in that district. There was also some leakage.

The government had not ordered release of any water to Tamil Nadu, so far as reservoir level is still low,'' he said.

He said he would ask the Chief Engineer of the reservoir to reduce the outflow further until the level reached 100 feet. At present it was at 91 ft against the full level of 124.8 ft.

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