Ballari: With the release of over 1.70 cusecs of water from Tungabhadra reservoir, on Sunday, several places along the banks of the Tungabhadra river in the Ballari district, including world heritage site Hampi are facing flood threat.
All the 33 gates were partially opened – 28 gates were raised for four feet to release 5,328 cusecs from each gate and five gates were lifted for one foot to release 1,398 cusecs from each gate – as the reservoir was receiving heavy inflow, over two lakh cusecs, thanks to the downpour in the Tungabhadra catchment area in the Western Ghats for the last one week, reported The Hindu.
With the release of water, Ballari and Koppal districts are witnessing floods and the bridge built across the river between Kampli and Gangavathi is submerged, cutting the connectivity between the two important towns. The tourists who had come to Hampi have been moved to safer pockets. The district administration has asked the residents along the banks to move to safer places.
Around 200 tourists, including 40 engineering students from Bengaluru, are estimated to have been stranded in Virupapurgaddi in Gangavathi taluk, Koppal district. The taluk administration is preparing for their rescue, stated The Hindu.