The death toll in the floods in Karnataka rose to 31 as of Saturday night. 14 people are missing due to the heavy rains that have lashed north, central and coastal parts of the state since August 4.
Belagavi continues to remain the worst affected district in the state. Other districts witnessing considerable damage to life and property include Kodagu, Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, Dakshina and Uttara Kannada. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will do an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Belagavi on Sunday.
Among the 31 confirmed deaths, 10 were reported from Belagavi, seven from Kodagu, four from Uttara Kannada, two each in Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga and Udupi; three in Dharwad and one in Mysuru.
Eight people in Kodagu, two people in Belagavi, three in Chikkamagaluru and one person in Haveri are reported missing.
A total of 3.14 lakh people have been evacuated from low-lying areas, of which 2.18 lakh people are staying in 924 relief camps spread across 17 districts.
The Chief Minister’s office stated that 136 major roads (national highways, state highways and major district roads) have been damaged due to floods and landslides.
Local fire and emergency personnel, civil defence, 19 teams of NDRF, two teams of SDRF, three teams of Indian Coast Guard, one team of the Navy, four helicopters of the Indian Air Force and the 12 columns of the Army continue the relief and rescue operations. Meanwhile, disaster management authorities say the flood water will only recede in the next two or three days.
On Saturday, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa told reporters that he has sought Rs 3,000 crore in aid from the central government for relief work in the state's flood-hit districts in the northwest and coastal regions, battered by heavy monsoon rains and strong surface winds.
The CM continues to review the relief measures with senior officers of the government while senior officers of the rank of Additional Chief Secretary have been appointed as nodal officers to oversee relief operations. Fifty-eight probationary officers of the Karnataka Administrative Services have been deputed to flood-affected districts to assist the district administration with flood relief.
Admitting that the flood situation in the affected districts was serious due to incessant rains, the Chief Minister said that roads, highways, state-run buildings, electric poles, transformers and other infrastructure had been damaged.