Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday visited flood-affected areas in Belagavi, the worst affected district in the state, to monitor rescue and relief operations.
Six people who have died in the state due to the recent floods are all from Belagavi, including a policeman involved in rescue operations. The CM has announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the kin of the victims while the policeman’s family will get Rs 50 lakh.
Four NDRF teams comprising of 60 personnel have been deployed to affected areas in the district. Other than NDRF, two teams of SDRF of 43 persons, eight columns of Maratha Light Infantry comprising of 400 personal (rescue and engineering task force) have been deployed in the district.
At present, with no other ministers appointed in the cabinet, the CM is the only elected leader involved in monitoring the relief operations spread over the north, central and coastal districts of Karnataka, from the administration side.
As of Thursday morning, two NDRF teams comprising 60 personnel and flood rescue equipment have been deployed in flood-affected areas of Raichur district. One NDRF team each has been deployed in Bagalkot and Dharwad districts.
As things stand, water releases from reservoirs are well-coordinated and as per protocol to prevent inundation of downstream areas. The levels in the reservoirs are adjusted to prevent inundation of downstream areas. The villages likely to be affected due to heavy discharge have been identified and necessary precaution taken, say officials.
The Health Department has cancelled all leaves in the flood-affected areas between August 9 and 15.
According to the Met department, widespread rainfall will continue over the north, central and coastal districts.
District administrations have declared holiday for schools and colleges in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru districts as a preventive measure. As a result of the damage to roads and landslides over rail tracks, several bus and train services have been discontinued.