Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday directed to extend the last date of paying fees for candidates in the third round of counselling for Common Entrance Test (CET), by one week.
CET is the entrance exam which Class 12 and PUC II students write to qualify for engineering, pharmacology and technical education courses for colleges in Karnataka.
“Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has directed officials to extend the last date to pay fee for candidates selected in third round counselling of CET by one week. Today was the last day to pay fees. This step is taken in the wake of the flood situation in various parts of Karnataka,” the CM’s office tweeted.
According to the Karnataka Examination Authority, the final date for submitting the fee is now August 13.
The order by the CM is set to give relief to many students in the wake of heavy rainfall and flooding which have affected central, coastal and northern districts of the state in the past week. Around two lakh candidates appear for the exam held in various centres in Karnataka every year. Out of those applicants, 67,000 students have been allotted seats.
At present, many parts of coastal, Malnad and northern Karnataka are flooded affecting normal life. Heavy rainfall in neighbouring Maharashtra, Telangana has worsened the situation for north Karnataka districts, as water is being released from reservoirs in upper riparian areas.
On Wednesday, the Indian Meteorological Department had predicted more heavy rainfall in Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Belagavi, Raichur, Dharwad, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Chamarajanagar.
Apart from teams of the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, State Fire and Emergency Department officials, the Indian Army is on the ground to conduct rescue and relief operations.
Even bus and train routes have been affected as landslides and road cave-ins are being reported due to the persistent rainfall.