Incessant rain in Shivamogga causes Tunga River to breach danger level
Shivamogga: Continuous heavy rains across Shivamogga have caused the Tunga River to overflow, breaching the danger level on Tuesday. The relentless downpour in Agumbe and Thirthahalli areas has increased the inflow of water to the Tunga dam. With the dam already at its highest capacity, the excess water is being steadily released into the river, resulting in a significant rise in the water level.
On Tuesday, the mantapa near the Korpalayya Chatra in Shivamogga submerged, signaling the dangerous rise of the Tunga River. The low-lying areas along the riverbanks are now at risk of flooding. In response, the municipal administration has issued warnings and taken necessary precautions to safeguard the residents.
The incessant heavy rains in the Shivamogga basin have led to a considerable increase in water inflow to major reservoirs across the district. The Linganmakki dam, a key hydro-electric project in the state, has experienced a dramatic rise in water inflow. As of Tuesday morning, the inflow to the dam surged to 77,911 cusecs. The current water level in the dam stands at 1782.15 feet, nearing its maximum capacity of 1819 feet. Over the past 24 hours, an additional four feet of water has accumulated in Linganmakki.
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Similarly, the Bhadra reservoir, a significant dam in Central Karnataka, has also seen a notable increase in water levels, with an inflow of 27,839 cusecs. Out of this, 166 cusecs of water is being released. The current water level in the dam is recorded at 144 feet and 7 inches, while the maximum capacity is 186 feet. In the last 24 hours, the dam has accumulated almost 3.5 feet of water. On the same day last year, the dam recorded a water storage level of 143.3 feet.
Meanwhile, the Tunga dam has reached its maximum level of 588.24 meters with an inflow of 42,683 cusecs on Tuesday. Out of this, 41,583 cusecs of water is being released to the Tungabhadra dam in Hospet.
The district authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have urged residents in vulnerable areas to stay alert and follow safety measures.
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Woman in labour dies while being transported in ambulance lacking oxygen support
Palghar (PTI): A 26-year-old pregnant woman from Maharashtra's Palghar district died while being taken to hospital in an ambulance which was not equipped with oxygen and other necessary facilities, authorities said on Wednesday.
Palghar's Civil Surgeon Dr Ramdas Marad said the health department has repeatedly raised concerns with authorities about the lack of specialised ambulances in the region.
The woman, who was in labour pain, was brought to a rural hospital here in a critical state on Tuesday evening.
"If she had come earlier, we could have saved her," the health official said.
Palghar Lok Sabha member Dr Hemant Savara said the health department should take necessary action into the matter and ambulance services should have adequate facilities.
Pinki Dongarkar, resident of Sarni village, went into labour on Tuesday evening.
Her family immediately rushed her to Kasa rural hospital, but due to the critical nature of her condition, the staff there referred her to neighbouring Silvassa city (in the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu) for further medical attention.
However, despite frantic attempts by her family to secure an ambulance equipped with oxygen and necessary medical facilities through the '108' emergency service, their requests went unanswered, a health official said.
They were eventually provided with a regular ambulance by the Kasa rural hospital.
While en route to Silvassa, the woman succumbed to complications and the foetus also did not survive, health officials confirmed.
Dr Marad said the woman was brought to the Kasa rural hospital in a critical state.
According to him, the woman suffered from a condition called Intrauterine Fetal Death (IUFD), where the foetus died in the womb. The exact time of the foetal death could not be determined.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the woman was semi-conscious and showed signs of severe infection.
On issues with the 108 emergency ambulance services, which are privately operated, Dr Marad said the ambulance might have been unavailable due to high demand.
The health department has repeatedly raised concerns with authorities about the lack of specialised ambulances in the region, he said.
Talking to PTI, Palghar BJP MP Savara said, "This is a very sad incident. The health department should take necessary action in this connection. Also, such an incident should not happen in future for this reason."
"The ambulance services should have adequate oxygen and cardiac support facilities. Also, a doctor is required to accompany the patient. I will follow it up with the government," he said.
CPI (M) leader Vinod Nikole, the newly-elected assembly member from Dahanu in Palghar, said he had raised the issue in the House during his last term, but no action was taken.
He criticised the government over "indifference" towards improving healthcare facilities, particularly in tribal areas, and accused the state of prioritising other programmes, such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, over the urgent needs of healthcare in rural regions.
