Flood-hit Karnataka seeks Rs 10,000 crore aid from Centre

Bengaluru, Oct 23 : Karnataka sought Rs 10,000 crore special package from the Central government for relief and rehabilitation works in dozen flood-hit districts across the state, an official said on Friday.
“Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking Rs 10,000 crore special relief package, a day after carrying out an aerial survey of affected districts in the northern and northwest regions of the state on Wednesday,” an official of the state Revenue Department told IANS here.
The affected districts across the state are Bagalkot, Ballari, Belagavi, Bidar, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Kodagu, Koppal, Raichur, Yadgir, Vijayapura and Udupi.
Besides torrential rains, flash floods were caused due to discharge of excess water from neighbouring Maharashtra into Krishna and Bheema rivers, forcing the state authorities to release more water from dams in the northern and northwest regions.
According to initial estimates by the State Disaster Management Authority, kharif crops awaiting harvesting in 6.3 lakh hectares were damaged due to heavy rains and flooding as the southwest monsoon extended beyond September.
“A central team will soon visit the affected districts for a spot assessment of the damage caused to crops, houses, infrastructure, including roads, bridges, highways and power lines due to heavy rains and flooding,” said the official.