Date:14/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/14/stories/2006081405850400.htm

Karnataka - Bellary

Bridge submerged in Bellary district

Staff Correspondent

Movement of vehicles between Kampili and Gangavati affected

32 of the 33 gates of the Tungabhadra dam have been opened
Water is flowing two feet above the bridge

Officials told to alert people to move to safe places

BELLARY: Movement of vehicles between Kampili and Gangavati in Koppal district has been affected as the bridge linking the two towns got submerged in the Tungabhadra following heavy discharge from the Tungabhadra reservoir.

Water was flowing two feet above the bridge and the police on either side had stopped the movement of vehicular traffic as a precautionary measure, D.C. Rajappa, in-charge Superintendent of Police, said.

As many as 32 of the total 33 gates of the Tungabhadra dam at Hospet have been opened due to the increased inflow into the reservoir.

Official sources said that as per the reading at 4 p.m., the inflow into the reservoir was around 1.16 lakh cusecs while the discharge into the river was 1.56 lakh cusecs.

The inflow was around 51,000 cusecs in the morning and it touched over one lakh cusecs by noon forcing the authorities to open all but one gate of the reservoir. The reservoir level stood at 1,632.67 ft as against the full level of 1,633 ft.

Anticipating a heavy inflow and corresponding discharge, the authorities of the revenue and police departments have instructed the tahsildars concerned and police officers to be alert and also caution people on the river banks to move to safe places.