Pic: RDPR minister and Kalaburagi in-charge Priyank Kharge on Friday visited flood-affected villages in Afzalpur taluk in Kalaburagi. He visited Deval Ganagapur, where he inspected a submerged bridge and later visited Sonna bridge-cum-barrageKalaburagi: Around 3.5 lakh cusecs of water was released into the Bhima River from Maharashtra’s Ujani reservoir, resulting in severe flooding in Afzalpur and Jevargi taluks of Kalaburagi district. The flood affected numerous villages situated along the Bhima River basin. Flood-affected families appealed to Kalaburagi DC Fouzia Tarannum, who visited the Mannur care centre, for permanent roofs, as they face the Bhima River flood annually on Friday.On Friday, DC Fouzia Tarannum visited families who were relocated to a care centre in Mannur village following the inundation of their homes by Bhima River floodwaters in Afzalpur taluk. She assured the victims of complete assistance.The release of water from Sheena River into the Bhima River at Ujani dam increased the river inflow, causing water to seep into houses across many villages along the river. For safety reasons, villagers of Mannur village along the riverbank were moved to care centres. DC Fouzia Tarannum spoke to victims sheltering at the care centre opened at the govt high school in the village, assuring them that the govt is providing all necessary assistance and that they need not worry. She stated that everyone would receive quality food and essential medical facilities. However, some villagers on the river banks are refusing to move to the care centres, valuing their lives as precious.DC also interacted with women and children in the welfare centre, inquiring whether they brought important documents and daily use items from their homes to the care centre as a precautionary measure. During the visit, a victim fell on DC Tarannum’s feet, pleading that the govt provide them with permanent relief to eliminate this recurring annual flooding issue.Present at the occasion were zilla panchayat chief executive officer Bhamvarasingh Meena, assistant commissioner Sahitha Aladakatte, SP Srinivasalu Adduru, tashildar Sanjivakumar Dasara, and taluk panchayat in-charge administrative officer Shankar. Approximately 500 people were relocated to safe areas in Ganagapur from Sangam at Bhima River in Afzalpur taluk. Many villages in Afzalpur and Jevargi taluks were affected by the Bhima River flood.On Thursday, the Jevargi taluk administration arranged a temporary ferry for the villagers of Kattisangavi, whose connection to Jewargi town was cut off for the past week due to the flood. The substantial water release from Maharashtra into the Bhima River caused Kattisangavi near the dam bridge to become fully submerged, severely impacting school children, patients visiting hospitals, and farmers over the past week. A boat was thus arranged for Kattisangavi village of Jewargi taluk on Thursday. Priyank assures villagers of adequate measures Priyank Kharge, minister for rural development and panchayat raj, IT & BT, and Kalaburagi district minister, inspected the Gangapur, Sonna bridge-cum-barrage in Afzalpur taluk of Kalaburagi district on Friday. The inspection was prompted by the threat of flooding caused by significant water inflow from Veer, Ujani, Sheena reservoir, and Bori River in Maharashtra. During his visit to Devala Gangapur, the minister observed that the Gangapur-Itaga bridge was completely submerged. Villagers present at the site reported that the bridge gets submerged annually, disrupting connectivity. They appealed for permanent relief by constructing a higher bridge. Priyank assured the villagers that he would revisit the location after the floods subsided, to conduct a thorough assessment and implement necessary remedial measures. He also addressed concerns about the potential supply of contaminated water due to floods, by instructing the taluk panchayat executive officer. He also visited the care centre at Yatri Nivas in Gangapur, to consult with flood victims, directing officials to provide meals and essential infrastructure to those affected. He also visited the damaged tur crop field in Choudapur village, tomato crops damaged in Mallabada village, and cotton crops damaged near Afzalpur