Water from the Naviluteertha Dam was released on Friday, leading to the inundation of monuments in Aihole and Pattadakal.

According to Bagalakot Deputy Commissioner Ramachandran, the nine Hindu temples and a Jain sanctuary built by the Chalukyas in Pattadakal were inundated on Friday and continued to flood on Saturday. “The Virupaksha Temple, was built in 740 CE by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband's victory over southern kingdoms. This is the biggest tourist attraction here. Waterlogging is up to 5 ft above ground level currently,” DC Ramachandran added.

Two cave temples and 12 other heritage temples in Aihole too were inundated. 

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Bagalakot Deputy Commissioner Ramachandran says that the waterlogging at the heritage sites is dangerous if the situation persists as the water could erode the rocks used to build the temple
Bagalakot Deputy Commissioner Ramachandran says that the waterlogging at the heritage sites is dangerous if the situation persists as the water could erode the rocks used to build the temple © The News Minute