India – 9 Dead as Floods Hit Karnataka, Hundreds Evacuate Floods in Telangana and Goa

While a massive rescue effort is ongoing in the state of Maharashtra, teams from the Air Force, Army, Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in India have also been deployed to flood-hit areas of the state of Karnataka.

NDRF flood rescue in Belagavi, Karnataka, July 2021. Photo: NDRF

Karnataka has seen particularly heavy rainfall from 22 July. In a 24 hour period to early 23 July, Ankola in Uttara Kannada District recorded 541 mm of rain. In the following 24 hour period, Thirthahalli in Shimoga district saw 355 mm of rain.

Officials said the Indian Navy have rescued hundreds of people in Karnataka. In Uttara Kannada district, the Navy teams evacuated 165 people from Singudda and Bhaire villages near Kadra Dam, while 70 people were evacuated from low lying areas of Kaiga. As of 25 July, 31,360 people had evacuated from low-lying areas across the state.

Nine people have died and three people are missing in flood-affected regions of Karnataka, State Revenue Minister R Ashok told media. Fatalities were reported in the districts of Uttara Kannada district (4), Belagavi (2), and Chikkamagaluru, Dharwad and Kodagu. Shivamogga and Haveri districts have also been affected.

On 25 July Chief Minister of Karnataka B.S. Yediyurappa visited areas in Belagavi District (also known as Belgaum) which have flooded from overflowing rivers.

India’s Central Water Commission (CWC) reported the Ghatprabha and Dudhganga rivers in Belagavi District were both flowing above Severe Flood levels as of 25 July 2021.

Levels of the Ghatprabha river in Belagavi District, Karnataka, India late July 2021. Image: CWC

Telangana and Goa

Flooding was also reported in parts of neighbouring states of Telangana and Goa on 22 July. The situation was more severe in Goa, where flooding damaged roads, bridges and homes and was described as the worst in decades. Over 400 people were evacuated. Two trains were also derailed by a landslide and an overflowing river.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “Many people had to be evacuated because of the flooding. We have taken the help of the Navy and the port authorities too. We had to rescue some people using rescue boats. Our teams have been working since last night to move people to safety. The (400) evacuated people from the five talukas have been housed in government primary schools and we have made arrangements for their accommodation and food.”

Maharashtra

Dozens of people have died in floods and landslides in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra over the last few days.

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