SHIVAMOGGA: Heavy rain in Hosanagar, Tirthahalli, and Sagar taluks, besides the Koppa and Sringeri areas of Chikkamagaluru district, over the past three to four days has increased the water levels of the Bhadra and Linganamakki reservoirs.
The water level at the Bhadra reservoir reached 163.6 feet, against a maximum of 186 feet, as of Monday morning. There was an increase of seven feet in just three days. As of last Friday, the water level in the reservoir was just 153 feet.
Similarly, the water level in Linganamakki reservoir rose to 1,784.70 feet against a maximum of 1,819 feet from 1,776 feet as per last Friday morning. Linganamakki reservoir catchment area recorded 58.2 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Tunga river has been overflowing, and authorities have released 89,503 cusecs of water from the dam. People living in the low-lying areas of the river were cautioned about it.
The district recorded an overall rainfall of 140.66 mm in just three days compared to the expected rainfall of 404.71 mm. Tirthahalli taluk recorded the highest rainfall of 272.10 mm, and Bhadravati taluk recorded the lowest of 19.80 mm.
Hosanagar taluk recorded 267.20 mm; Sagar taluk- 173.90 mm; Sorab taluk- 138.80; Shikaripura- 72.20 mm, and Shivamogga recorded 40.60 mm.
Though the monsoon got delayed, farmers expressed joy. Paddy growers from the Bhadra, Tunga, Anjanapura and Ambligola reservoir command areas hoped that if the rain continued for the next 8-10 days, it would fill the reservoirs.