Karnataka Floods: Heavy rains continue,Army to intervene
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River Musi in Hyderabad
Flooding has struck the state of Karnataka for the third time in three months, with Chief Minister Yedyurappa declaring the districts of Kalaburagi, Raichur, Vijayapura and Yadgir as the worst affected. The Indian Army has been deployed in these districts and are currently assisting in evacuating stranded citizens.
Floods in Telangana and Karnataka have been exacerbated by heavy rains which have been forecast for another five days. Release of water from dams in the neighbouring Maharashtra have also contributed to rising water levels.
The Karnataka Disaster Management Authority has revealed that no lives have been lost but a total of 20,267 people have been evacuated by the combined efforts of the Army, the National Disaster Responce Force and the State Disaster Response Force.
Chief Minister B.S Yedyurappa condoned the loss of crops and livelihood.
"In the given circumstances, it has become necessary to carry out an aerial survey of Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir and Vijayapura on October 21," he said in release in Bengaluru.
The Bhima and Krishna rivers which flow through these districts have overflowed, with the Bhima flowing at 4.45m , a good 1.61m above its previous Highest Flood Level.
Rains have also cause flooding in neighbouring Telangana with the city of Hyderabad being lashed by torrential downpour, recording it's rainiest day ever in 117 years.
"Never saw [the river] Musi this high and this fast," said a resident of Hyderabad.
"In my area it was about 20-25 feet higher than normal.Saw people who live near it crowding on main roads and footpaths trying to save themselves and their kids." he added
Several people in the city have already been killed due to collapsing walls in the rains.
The low-pressure storm system which formed over the North Andaman Sea is now sweeping through Andhra-Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra, cutting its way north-west and bringing rain with it.
"My grandfather says never saw anything this bad before," he adds, noting that with the opening of dams, the water levels had risen again.