Red alert in 7 districts as Karnataka sees record 500 mm rainfall

The state government has sounded a red alert in seven districts. The deaths included two in Uttara Kannada and one in Chikkamagalur.

Dr Manoj Rajan, Commissioner, Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, said parts of Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Belagavi, Chikkamagalur, Dharwad, Haveri, Kodagu and Davanagere are facing a flood threat due to incessant rains over the past few days.

Ankola-Dongri in Uttara Kannada district reported the highest rainfall of 541 mm, Rajan said, and added, “KSNDMC issued real-time heavy rainfall alerts at 412 locations.”

A red alert has been sounded in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagalur, Hassan and Kodagu districts for the next 24 hours in view of possible heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, while an orange alert has been issued for Belagavi and Dharwad, the officer said.

Reservoirs brimming

The rains have also led to the filling up of most of the reservoirs in Karnataka, including Almatti, Bhadra, KRS, Kabini, Harangi, Hemavati, Narayanapura, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha, he said.

According to Rajan, 131 villages in 18 taluks are badly hit, affecting 16,213 people.

While three people lost their lives, two are missing. The rains damaged 21 houses completely and 804 houses partially. Sixty-five bridges, 10 schools and a primary health centre were damaged, while 291.03 km of roads were washed away.

So far, 8,733 people have been evacuated to safety. The state has opened 80 relief camps where 4,964 people are staying.

Landslides were reported in eight places, including Virajpet in Kodagu district and Arabail Ghat in Uttara Kannada district.

The Indian Railways cancelled a few trains due to landslides between Sonalium-Kulem and Dudhsagar-Caranzol. The Goa Express Special train was stopped at the Londa station in Belagavi district.

CM cancels officials’ leave

The Indian Coast Guard said that it conducted a day-long rescue operation in the flood-hit Uttara Kannada district and rescued 161 people from Khargejoog village, Unglijoog, Kharejoog and Bodojoog islands.

Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who reviewed the flood situation with top officials on Friday, directed all district in-charge ministers and MLAs to oversee relief work in their areas and ordered cancellation of leave of officials responsible for flood relief work.

He said the government would extend all necessary support to relief and rescue efforts and assist farmers who suffered losses due to the untimely rain and hailstorms.

Yediyurappa directed officials to send the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force personnel to the affected districts and open relief camps.

He urged them to seek the Indian Army’s help, including helicopters, for relief operations. He also instructed the officials to submit a proposal for any financial assistance required.

Coast Guard ops

Meanwhile, the ICG said in a statement that its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and rescue operations were pressed into service at short notice to carry out rescue operations in the islands in Uttara Kannada district.