The death toll in the continual floods in Karnataka has risen to 24 as of Saturday afternoon. Heavy rainfall has lashed north, central and coastal Karnataka since August 4.
Another nine people are feared missing, according to the situation report prepared by the Chief Minister’s Office.
As relief and rescue operations by the local fire and emergency personnel, NDRF, SDRF, civil defence and the Army continues, disaster management authorities say the flood water will only recede in the next two or three days.
Among the 16 deaths that were confirmed as of Friday evening, eight were reported in Belagavi, two in Uttara Kannada, one each in Mysuru, Shivamogga, Udupi and three in Dharwad. Another seven are from Kodagu.
The extent of the flood has been felt in 80 taluks spread across 18 districts. A total of 2.43 lakh people have been evacuated from low lying areas including those who were airlifted. 1. 61 lakh people, who have been rescued are currently lodged in 664 relief camps.
Belagavi continues to remain the worst affected district in the state. Other districts witnessing considerable damage to life and property include Kodagu, Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, Dakshina and Uttara Kannada.
The CMO has pegged the losses incurred at Rs 5,000 crore. Initial estimates have found that 3. 75 lakh hectares of crops, 14,000 houses and 478 km of power lines have been damaged.
This is in addition 1,410 km of roads, 211 bridges, 10 minor irrigation tanks, 4,019 government buildings, 92 water supply infrastructure, 2,575 electrical poles and four sanitation structures were damaged in Belagavi district alone.
In Dharwad, 413 km of roads, 47 bridges/culverts, 19 tanks, 71 canals,158 government building have been damaged.
Damages in the coastal and central districts are yet to be ascertained. There have been multiple road blockages across the state, especially in the central districts, which have disconnected road and rail networks from Bengaluru.
Read: Karnataka floods: Full list of trains and buses cancelled or diverted on Saturday
Due to excess rainfall in the Cauvery catchment area, many tributaries have flooded their banks prompting district officials to move people to safety in Mysuru and surrounding districts.
According to the Indian Meteorological Center, heavy rainfall warning was issued on Saturday morning. There will be scattered heavy to very heavy rain with isolated extremely heavy fall all across coastal Karnataka, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Shivamogga districts on Saturday.
Isolated heavy to very heavy rain with isolated extremely heavy falls is likely to occur in Dharwad and Haveri district of North Interior Karnataka. Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajanagara districts of South Interior Karnataka.
IMD predicts scattered heavy to very heavy rain with isolated extremely heavy falls across coastal Karnataka and Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Shivamogga districts for Sunday.
Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in Belagavi, Dharwad and Haveri, districts of North Interior Karnataka and Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajanagara districts of South Interior Karnataka on Sunday.