At least seven people died and four people were reported missing on Thursday due to heavy rains in coastal and Malnad region in Karnataka.
CM HD Kumaraswamy announced that he will immediately release an additional Rs 200 crore as relief for the districts of Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Hassan, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru.
The announcement came shortly after he held a meeting with senior officials of the flood-affected districts where he was apprised of the increase in rainfall from previous years.
The coastal and south interior parts of Karnataka have been receiving incessant rainfall since the start of the week. Compared to previous years, the rainfall in Kodagu was 175% more, 63% more in Udupi, 117% in Shivamogga, 180% in Chikkamagaluru, 130% in Hassan and 81% in Uttara Kannada districts this year already. He has assigned the district-in charge ministers to supervise the rescue and relief measures.
Two deaths were reported from Udupi district in the last 48 hours.
Meanwhile, predictions by weathermen suggest there is some respite in store for the district authorities, currently struggling with rescue operations.
“Although we are expecting similar heavy, widespread rainfall till tonight, the situation will improve gradually from Friday morning. However intermittent light to moderate rainfall will go on till August 20,” said Sunil M Gavaskar, meteorologist at Karnataka State Disaster Monitoring Centre to TNM.
In Mysuru district, four people died after their car fell in Periyapatna, Doddakammanahalli in a stream leading to Haranagi. Palaniswamy, his wife Sanju, son Nikhil and daughter Poornima were identified as the victims. They were from Kodagu’s Napoklu village.
In Madikeri’s Katageri, Yashwanat Venkataramana and Pawan died because of a landslide. They had fled from their homes but when they came back to see their house, they perished in a landslide. A landslide was reported from Hemme Taluk, while 20 people were rescued from another landslide.
Another four persons have been washed away after a hill that collapsed in Madikeri. Umesh, Chandramati, Chandugopal, Honnamma have gone missing. In the same village, 30 families are stranded on the hilltop. Heavy mist has made it difficult for helicopters to reach the affected area.
In Hebbadageri, Devasturu and surrounding villages, many people are stranded and are waiting to be rescued. Roads leading to the villages have been cut off due to inundation.
A total of 1,755 people have been put up in 28 relief camps across the state.
| Areas | No. of people | Relief camps |
|
Shivamogga |
260 | 5 |
| Uttara Kannada | 79 | 3 |
| Udupi | 200 | 2 |
| Kodagu | 700 | 10 |
| Dakshina Kannada | 216 | 5 |
| Hassan | 150 | 1 |
| Davanegere | 150 | 2 |
Major roads via Shirdi and Sampangi Ghat Road have been closed due to landslides. Kushalnagar to Hassan state HW, and Bhagamandala to Ayyengeri road have been closed due to waterlogging and several other roads were blocked. District Collectors have deployed heavy machinery to clear the debris.