UNI

Bangalore, Aug 11: The flood situation in North Karnataka remained grim on Thursday with rivers Bhima and Krishna continuing to be in spate following heavy discharge from the dams of rain-ravaged Maharashtra.

Over 3.50 lakh people had been evacuated so far as floodwaters marooned over 150 villages in Belgaum, Bijapur and Gulbarga districts.

A Bijapur report said water level in river Bhima touched the danger mark following discharge of 3.15 lakh cusecs from Ujjini and Veerbhatkal dams in neighbouring Maharashtra.

The river was flowing at 13 M At Dulikhed, the entry point of the river on the Maharashtra border, inundating low-lying areas in Indi, Sindgi, Bagewadi and Muddebihal taluks.

Authorities were shifting people of several affected villages to safer places. A Gulbarga report said people of about 40 villages on the banks of river Bhima had been asked to move to safer places and fishermen warned to keep away from the river.

Floodwaters had already entered Kadiganur, Tarapur, Shivoor, Kaliwadi and Sanchawada villages. The water level in the Narayanapur dam, built across river Krishna, was maintained at 490.14 M.

The inflow dropped slightly to 2.70 lakh cusecs as against three lakh cusecs received on Wednesday. The same amount was being discharged downstream Jurala dam in Andhra Pradesh.