Facing a dire flood situation, especially along the swollen Krishna and Bhima rivers in Kalyana Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, September 28, 2025, issued urgent directives. He tasked Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, and the Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner with maintaining strict vigilance and ensuring the swift deployment of rescue and relief operations across Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgir, and Vijayapura districts.
Intense rainfall in Kalaburagi, coupled with significant water releases from Maharashtra’s Ujani and Neera reservoirs, has submerged numerous low-lying villages, including Bennethora, pushing them to the brink of severe inundation.
Emphasizing the need for a direct and hands-on approach, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructed Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in all four affected Kalyana Karnataka districts to personally visit the crisis-stricken areas and implement immediate emergency measures.
A statement from the Chief Minister’s office underscored his call for heightened accountability and coordination at the state secretariat level to effectively manage the crisis.
Urgent Review of Flood-Hit Areas
During a critical meeting attended by Minister Gowda and Chief Secretary Rajneesh, the Chief Minister urged District In-Charge Secretaries to immediately tour the affected regions. Their mandate: assess the ground situation and provide direct guidance to district administrations for implementing crucial response strategies.
Furthermore, Siddaramaiah specifically directed senior officials to foster robust inter-departmental coordination. He made it clear that the Secretaries of the Rural Development Department and the Additional Chief Secretaries of the Water Resources Department must also personally inspect the sites to ensure a unified and effective disaster management effort.
With vast low-lying areas and agricultural fields submerged, the Chief Minister unequivocally stated that protecting human and animal lives was the top priority. “Every possible precautionary measure must be taken to prevent any loss of life, whether human, livestock, or other animals,” he asserted.
Additionally, Mr. Siddaramaiah instructed officials to guarantee the timely provision of food in relief camps for displaced residents and adequate fodder for domestic animals. Villagers, predominantly farmers, have expressed deep concern over extensive losses to their crops and livestock, and are urgently seeking appropriate compensation.