Parts of Karnataka got some respite from heavy rainfall battering the state on Tuesday, even as the downpour is predicted to continue in coastal districts.
As of Tuesday evening, the floods and landslides in the state had claimed 54 human lives and left at least 852 animals dead. 15 people are missing, and 100 of the 176 taluks in Karnataka were found to have been affected by the heavy rains.
"With monsoon rainfall reducing across the coastal, central, south interior and northwest regions of the state, rescue and relief operations were conducted to restore normalcy in about 100 talukas (local bodies) in the state's 21 districts," a revenue official said.
Moderate to heavy rainfall continued in coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka with more rainfall predicted in this region in the next five days. Seven people are still missing after a landslide in Thora village in Kodagu district where search operations for survivors and bodies have entered the sixth day.
Water levels receded in Shivamogga city, where low-lying areas were flooded by the Tunga river. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa visited the flood-affected areas in his home district of Shivamogga, which lies in the Karnataka’s Malnad region. Theerthahalli, Hosanagara and Soraba taluks in the district were found to be affected by floods.
Search and rescue
As rainfall in the upper Krishna river basin in Maharashtra reduced, rescue operations intensified in northern Karnataka hit by floods. Rescue officials have speeded up evacuations in Belagavi, Bagalkot and Raichur districts. Four Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service to rescue people in the region.
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More than 6.9 lakh people have been evacuated in the last 10 days after rising water levels disrupted life in 21 districts. "Of the evacuated, 3.9 lakh have been sheltered to 1,151 relief camps, where food, drinking water, toilets and blankets are provided till they return to their homes," the revenue official said.
19 NDRF teams are currently carrying out rescue operations in Belagavi, Raichur, Bagalkot, Koppal, Shivamogga, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts.