More than 50 houses were damaged after a spell of rainfall hit Kodagu district of Karnataka. Isolated spells of rain were reported in areas under Somwarpet, Virajpet and Madikeri taluks starting from Wednesday night. This is the first spell of rainfall in the district in weeks.
Around 25 houses in Kushalnagar reported minor damages due to the unexpected rainfall. The roof of the Gumanakoli Government School flew off due to high-speed winds accompanying the rains. The classrooms were inundated with water as a result. Three houses in Siddapura area were also damaged in the rains.
"Kodagu received rainfall in isolated places but we are not expecting rain today or tomorrow. Next week, we expect more rainfall in Malnad and coastal Karnataka after April 28. There is a weak trough right now but by next week, we are expecting the trough will be stronger and that will be followed by more rainfall," Sunil Gavaskar, a meteorologist working with Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) told TNM.
The rains in the district come a day after heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activity were reported in Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts, affecting polling in these places. Spells of rainfall were also reported in the eastern parts of Dakshina Kannada district, including in Sullia.
In August 2018, floods and landslides had ravaged the hilly regions of Kodagu district displacing thousands of people. Regiments of the Indian army along with other rescue groups were stationed in Kodagu for over a week during the disaster.
While many areas in the district recovered after the rains subsided, coffee and pepper growers suffered huge crop loss, and residents of a few villages were rendered homeless following landslides.
The state government decided to rehabilitate more than 800 residents who suffered losses during the floods and landslides, however, the construction of the new houses is yet to be completed.