Heavy rains lash Karnataka as monsoon advances, 104 deaths reported since April
Heavy rains caused landslides near the hilly town of Yedakumeri in Hassan district. Weather office predicts heavy rain to continue through the week in coastal and south interior districts
Southwest monsoon advanced in Karnataka on Monday with heavy rains and gusty winds lashing many parts even as minister said 104 rain-related deaths have been reported in the state since April.
“Southwest monsoon was vigorous over interior Karnataka and active over coastal Karnataka on Monday,” the Bengaluru centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on its website.
The monsoon hit coastal Karnataka on May 29 -- three days earlier than predicted -- and covered the entire state by June 8.
Heavy rains hit the state’s coastal districts of Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada and interior districts of Kodagu, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, inundating low-lying areas, uprooting trees and damaged roads.
Parts of Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru received very heavy rainfall measuring over 13 cm on Monday, according to the data from IMD.
Heavy rains also caused landslides near the hilly town of Yedakumeri in the midst of Western Ghats in Hassan district, about 180km west of Bengaluru, leading to two trains being diverted.
“The landslide and a fallen tree in Hassan-Mangaluru route led to Yesvantpur-Karwar Express being partially cancelled beyond Hassan,” deputy general manager of South Western Railway E. Vijaya told IANS.
All the passengers of the express train en route Karwar in Uttara Kannada district, about 520km northwest of Bengaluru, were stranded at Hassan and later reached their destined towns and cities in state-run buses.
Another train Karwar-Yesvantpur Express, which runs between the port city of Karwar and Bengaluru, was re-routed due to the landslide.
The weather office predicts heavy rain to continue through the week in coastal and south interior districts.
Revenue minister R V Deshpande said he directed officials to take up relief works in affected areas on a war footing.
“There have been 104 rain-related deaths reported so far, of which 94 were due to lightning, 10 due to drowning and tree or wall collapse. We have issued directions for providing compensation to almost all of those affected immediately,” Deshpande said.
He said immediate payment would be made in case of damage to property, life and livestock.
The minister said there was an excess rainfall of 73%.
According to officials, there has been “excess” rainfall in almost all places, including Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Malnad and coastal regions.
Of 30 districts, 29 have received above normal rainfall and one normal rainfall.
With good rains, sowing in the state has improved. As of on Sunday, sowing operations had been taken up in 5.74 lakh hectares of agricultural land.
(With agency inputs)
