Heavy rains lashed Koppal and Vijayanagara districts on Friday and Saturday, resulting in temporary road blockages across several villages and extensive crop damage, with losses estimated in crores.
In Koppal, the rainfall ranged between 5 to 8 cm, causing the Hirehalla dam to fill rapidly and necessitating the release of water into the Hirehalla, a tributary of the Tungabhadra River. The sudden discharge of 18,886 cusecs triggered flooding along the riverbanks, affecting villages from Madinur to Dombrahalli.
Floodwaters submerged agricultural land along the river, destroying ready-to-harvest crops such as maize, chilies, and onions. Overflowing streams further disrupted transportation, cutting off roads to Koluru and Hiresindogi, while the Kalmala-Shiggavi state highway was shut down for several hours. In Gondbal village, a young man was rescued by firefighters after being swept away and trapped in dense foliage. Meanwhile, the closure of the Huligi-Anegondi road left thousands of devotees stranded at the Huligemma temple until water levels receded. A poultry farm in Ginageri also suffered losses, with 40 chickens dying from water infiltration. Authorities are now working to clear water weeds near the bridge-cum-barrage in Yatnatti village to prevent further water spread.
The heavy rains in the Tungabhadra basin caused a sharp inflow into the dam, reaching 84,504 cusecs by Sunday morning. To manage the rising levels, 82,968 cusecs of water were released into the river, resulting in the cutoff of Virupapuragadde and Navvrindavanagadde roads in Gangavati taluk. Several riverside monuments in Hampi, including the iconic 64-Column Mantap at Anegondi, are now underwater, with many temples and structures also flooded. Authorities have warned residents to avoid riverbanks, as the swelling Tungabhadra has brought the Kampli bridge close to submergence.
In Vijayanagara district, Huvina Hadagali taluk was hit particularly hard, with waterlogging damaging crops that were ready for harvest. Onion growers, who had hoped to profit from the favorable market prices, now face significant losses. Crops like onions and maize were washed away in most villages of the taluk, including Uttangi, Kenchammanahalli, and Mahajanadahalli. Overflowing lakes and tanks across both districts have further aggravated the situation.
Siddesh Uttangi, president of the state onion growers’ union, highlighted the recurring losses faced by farmers due to unseasonal rains and demanded compensation from the government. Siddappa Hosamani, taluk president of the Akhand Raitha Sangha, also urged authorities to provide suitable relief for the affected farmers.
