Bantwal: Incessant Rains Raise Netravati River to Danger Levels
By Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (RD/CN)
Bantwal, Jul 31: More than five houses in Vittal and Panemangalore were damaged in the incessant rains on Friday July 30. The low-lying areas along the Netravati River now run the risk of floods.
The water levels in the river exceeded the danger mark on Friday July 30 afternoon, but receded later in the day. Three significant bridges—Kanchikar, Melkar–Aladka and Panemangalore–Nandavar—were submerged on Friday.
The water-levels in the Netravati River receded to 7.2 meters from the danger mark of 8.5 meters. The playground of Sharada High School, Panemangalore, was inundated besides the plantations in the neighbourhood.
Many houses in the neighbourhood of Aladka were inundated during the last monsoon, when water-levels in Netravati River crossed the danger mark and reached 9.6 meters.
The dam of 12 meter height that was built by A M R Power at Shamboor, has kept floods away from the entire locality of Aladka this monsoon though the quantum of rains this time has been higher than last year.
Three houses in Vittal and two houses in Sajipanadu village of Panemangalore were damaged due to incessant rains on Thursday July 29. A makeshift areca bridge over a rivulet collapsed in Vittal.
Due to continued rains, the education department announced a holiday for primary and high schools in the taluk on Friday July 30, while some private colleges functioned as usual in Vittal. Authorities of some of the schools announced a holiday on Friday due to poor attendance.
Some of the local youth swimmers were found gathering firewood, timber, sacks of areca-nut, and coconut that come floating in the floods. The adventurous youth braved the surging water to salvage a few valuable items by swimming, using boats, and air-filled tubes.
(Netravathi river near Dharmasthala. Pics by Sunil Bekal)
“Six teams have been formed in the taluk and the revenue department is ready to face any eventualities”, said Ravichandra Nayak, Tahsildar, to media persons. Home guards personnel are ready with two motor boats and have sought the help of boat owners and local swimmers.
“In case of major floods, gruel centres will be set up at Sharada High School and Minar-ul-Islamia School here”, added Nayak.