Areas surrounding river Kabini, a popular tourist attraction in Karnataka, have been lashed with heavy rainfall over the past few days.
As the catchment areas of the river witnessed heavy downpour, the Karnataka Irrigation Department has sounded a flood warning to people residing downstream of Kabini reservoir.
According to a senior official with the Irrigation Department, the water level in the reservoir is 2,282 ft.
“If the rain continues, then the reservoir will reach its brim. The maximum capacity of the reservoir is just 2,284 ft. On Monday, the level was 2,282 ft. It is just two feet away from filling up. Hence, the Irrigation Department has issued a flood warning,” the official added.
According to data provided by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, the Kabini reservoir’s inflow as on Monday was between over 15,000 cusecs.
The Irrigation Department is planning to release 20,000 cusecs of water for irrigation purposes. “Hence, people living in villages downstream have been alerted to move to safer places,” the official added.
The senior official said that all procedures outlined by the Central Water Commission are being followed while releasing the water. The Commission has also been monitoring the water level.
“In the past two years, the water level in the reservoir has never reached its brim. For the first time in two years, there is adequate water and it is also the first time in the last couple of years that a flood warning has been issued,” he said.
It is not only the Kabini basin in Karnataka which has received heavy rainfall but also the catchment area of river Cauvery in Kodagu. Heavy rain lashed Kodagu district on Monday. Although it has been raining in Kodagu since Saturday, certain pockets in the district, especially Virajpet taluk received heavy rainfall on Monday, forcing the closure of schools and colleges.
The KSNDC has predicted more rain for the next three days. Officials of the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Limited are anticipating good inflow into the Krishna Raja Sagar dam as well in the days ahead. The water level in the reservoir was at 101.95 ft on Monday, as against the maximum capacity of 124.8 ft.