Bengaluru, Sept. 29 -- Chief minister Siddaramaiah instructed senior officials to intensify relief operations in Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgir, and Vijayapura, four districts in the Kalyana Karnataka region now under severe threat with rivers swelling and floodwaters spilling into villages across northern Karnataka.

A statement from the chief minister's office announced that Siddaramaiah will visit Kalaburagi district on September 30 to assess damage caused by floods in the Bhima river basin. He will meet officials in Kalaburagi to review relief measures in flood-hit areas, a statement from his office said on Sunday.

The crisis has been triggered by heavy rains in Kalaburagi and the release of water from Maharashtra's Ujani and Neera reserv...