Over 8,000 people have already been evacuated and shifted to relief centres where food, water and medical care are being provided to them.
Published Sep 29, 2025 | 3:23 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 29, 2025 | 3:23 PM
Residents being evacuated to safety.
Synopsis: The overflowing Bhima River flooded stretches of National Highway 50 near Jewargi, cutting off one of the major routes between Kalyana Karnataka and the rest of the state. The route remained submerged for the second day on Sunday. Several bridges across the Bhima near Kattisangavi and Khani villages were also submerged, disrupting vehicular movement. Roads to Bhaktampally and Garagapalli were also completely cut off.
Heavy rainfall over the past week, coupled with the release of excess water from rivers and reservoirs in Maharashtra, has triggered widespread flooding across North Karnataka.
Thousands of residents have been displaced, roads and public infrastructure affected, crops damaged, and transportation disrupted in Kalaburagi, Bidar, and Vijayapura districts.
The onslaught began with above-normal rain in the North Karnataka region, according to data from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) — 66 percent in August (194 mm against a normal of 118 mm), 28 percent till September 29 (173 mm against a normal of 135 mm).
Adding to the deluge, swollen Bhima and Manjra rivers marooned scores of villages, forcing residents to evacuate their homes. Visuals from the region showed residents being transported on coracles after massive discharges from Ujani and Sina reservoirs and barrages from Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, 28 September, instructed Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and the Kalaburagi District Collector to monitor the situation closely and take necessary rescue and relief work.
He also urged district in-charge secretaries, secretaries of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RDPR) Department and additional chief secretaries of the Water Resources Department to visit the flood-hit districts, assess the situation, and take necessary measures.
Siddaramaiah further stressed that priority should be given to saving the lives of people and livestock, along with taking necessary precautionary measures.
Several temples, including the Lakshmi, Ishwara, and Basavanna temples at Farozabad village in Kalaburagi, are inundated.
The overflowing Bhima River flooded stretches of National Highway 50 near Jewargi, cutting off one of the major routes between Kalyana Karnataka and the rest of the state.
The route remained submerged for the second day on Sunday. Several bridges across the Bhima near Kattisangavi and Khani villages were also submerged, disrupting vehicular movement. Roads to Bhaktampally and Garagapalli were also completely cut off.
Meanwhile, in Vijayapura, on 27 September, over 20 people, including children, were stranded without shelter in Kumasagi village. Officials who went on inspection were stranded after their vehicle broke down in the water. They eventually had to walk in knee-deep water to visit the flooded areas.
Incessant rains have also damaged large swathes of crops and farmlands. In Yadgir’s Godihal village, 200 acres of crops were submerged. Farm equipment, including pump sets, was also submerged. In Bagalkote, the roof of a residence collapsed in the rain, killing a 11-year-old boy and severely injuring another.
Schools were also shut amid an orange alert by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
While no IMD weather alert persists as of Monday, the Central Water Commission on Monday issued an alert warning that the Bhima river in Yadgir continues to flow in an extreme flood situation.
It is flowing at a level of 362.523 m with a falling trend which is 2.02 m above its danger level of 360.503 m. Similarly, Bhima river at Deongaon Bridge in Kalaburagi is flowing at a level of 406.4 m with rising trend which is 1.90 m above its danger level of 404.5 m.
Over 8,000 people have already been evacuated and shifted to relief centres where food, water and medical care are being provided, according to Kalaburagi district in-charge Priyank Kharge.
Two teams appointed by the BJP under the leadership of state president BY Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka are visiting the flood-affected areas in Karnataka and speaking to farmers on Monday.
According to a press release issued by the party, one team will visit Raichur, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, and Bidar and the other will visit Belagavi, Bagalkote, and Vijayapura.
Vijayendra accused the Congress government of doing ‘injustice’ to flood victims by waiting for the Centre to distribute funds for relief.
“Without taking any precautionary measures regarding the flood invasion and showing negligence, the state government, which lacks farmer care, is following a dismissive attitude by not rushing to the aid of the distressed people and farmers who are reeling from the terrible flood in the Kalyana Karnataka region,” he said in a post on X after visiting parts of Bidar on Monday.
On 28 September, Union minister HD Kumaraswamy urged district administrations to keep Kalaji Kendras (food centres) fully functional and accessible in every affected taluk.
“Alongside human suffering, there has been severe crop loss and damage across these districts. The plight of our farmers is heartbreaking, many have been forced to wipe their own hands with their tears. It is imperative that suitable and timely compensation be extended to them, so they may recover their dignity and livelihoods,” he said in a post on X.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
