Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan has asked the district administration officials to prepare for a possibility of floods in Belagavi district.

At a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority here on Tuesday, he told the officers that water discharge from Maharashtra is increasing on a daily basis.

“In the wake of widespread rainfall in neighboring Maharashtra and nine taluks of Belagavi districts for the past three days, water levels in rivers are increasing. There is a possibility of floods in the villages along the riverbanks in the district. We need to be prepared for any eventuality,” he said.

He asked officers to open helpline centres at the district and taluk levels.

“There is a fear of bridges collapsing in some areas. Movement of people and livestock on such bridges should be restricted. Police officers should coordinate with other departments and close down all vulnerable routes,” he said.

Boats should be arranged to evacuate people along the riverbanks to safe places in case of flooding. SDRF and firefighting teams should always be ready to deal with flood-like situations. Tahsildars should coordinate continuously with the SDRF team and provide information immediately, if necessary. Repair work should be carried out on electricity poles, electricity transformers and electricity wires in rural areas, he said.

Houses in dilapidated condition within the jurisdiction of rural and local bodies should be identified and instructions should be given to residents to move to safer places, if rainfall increases. A survey of partial and complete house damage should be carried out. Officials should ensure that there is no shortage of fodder for cattle, he said.

“We have identified 397 places to set up care centres in the district to evacuate people in case of floods. Officers should inspect them and ensure that they have all the necessary facilities,” he said.

“Awareness should be created to control infectious diseases that may spread due to rain. Stockpiles of medicine that may be required in areas facing possible floods should be made. A report on the tests carried out in connection with dengue should be prepared and submitted to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. All non-potable water sources should be closed,” he said.

A total of 41 boats, five from SDRF, nine from the Fire and Emergency Services and 27 from the taluk administration, will be available to evacuate people to safer places in the district in case of possible floods.

Officials said that 397 relief centers and 129 cow camps have been identified in the district to evacuate people to safety in case of possible floods.

Police Commissioner Borase Bhushan Gulabarao, Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, trainee IAS Officer Rohit Singh and others were present.