Kapila in spate; Mysuru-Nanjangud highway inundated

• Mysuru-Nanjangud highway closed for traffic
• Talakad Bridge submerged; off limits for traffic

Mysuru: after water from the swollen Kapila overflowed and inundated Mysuru-Nanjangud highway a stretch of the highway was closed for the second time in one week on Friday. Authorities diverted from near Mallanamoole Mutt situated near the bridge across Kapila river on the highway after water level rose in the morning.

After the Irrigation Department stepped up discharge from the Kabini reservoir because of increased inflow the water started spilling on to the highway.

Officials from the Irrigation Department said that they had to increase the discharge rate from 70,000 cusecs on Thursday to 80,000 cusecs on Friday since the inflow rate went up to 86,000 cusecs. Additionally, water was also being discharged at the rate of 7,200 cusecs from Nugu dam and 2,200 cusecs from Taraka dam, thereby altogether leading to the swell in Kapila.

Mysuru-Nanjangud road is part of National Highway 766, connecting Bengaluru with Ooty. Due to its inundation vehicular traffic on the road was diverted from near Kadakola to pass through the industrial area before reaching Nanjangud town.

Police sources informed that the traffic on the road to Suttur from Mysuru too had to be diverted owing to the overflowing Kapila River. Similarly, Talakad Bridge was also submerged and hence off limits for traffic.

“They had the foresight to maintain adequate buffer so that they would not have forced to release water suddenly,” said Vivek Cariappa, a farmer from H.D. Kote appreciating the proactive measures taken by the district administration in the management of water level in the reservoir.

Meanwhile, the district administration continued to issue periodic warnings to people residing in low-lying areas to evacuate to safer locations.

Rains have been forecast for the next five days as well, but the intensity is likely to be relatively lower, said Irrigation Department officials.