Heavy Rainfall Ravages Karnataka, Deputy CM Shivakumar Visits Bengaluru’s War Room

New Delhi, July 25, 2023: Karnataka is facing the wrath of relentless heavy rainfall, causing widespread flooding in several areas of the state. In response to the alarming situation, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited the war room of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to assess the rain’s impact in and around Bengaluru on Monday.

The torrential downpour has led to flooding, including the renowned Kukke Subramanya temple, where the premises were submerged under water. Tragically, two children lost their lives amidst the continuous heavy rainfall in the northern parts of the state.

In the wake of the severe conditions, authorities in nine districts declared a holiday for schools and colleges. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for some coastal districts, warning of potential disruptions in electricity, minor traffic snarls, and possible damage to “kuccha” houses.

The IMD categorized the alerts as “red” for Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada districts, “orange” for Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, and Shivamogga districts, and “yellow” for Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Haveri, Vijayapura, and Hassan districts on Monday.

Water levels in several rivers, lakes, canals, and other water bodies have surged, posing additional challenges for the affected regions. A landslide was also reported in Udupi district.

According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), Kodkani and Bilgi in the Siddapur Taluk of Uttara Kannada district recorded the highest rainfall across the state, measuring 342 mm and 235.5 mm, respectively. Kombaru in the Puttur Taluk of Dakshina Kannada received 220 mm of rainfall on Monday.

While the heavy rainfall in the past week has significantly improved the situation, the number of districts facing rainfall deficit since June 1 to July 24 has reduced. Currently, 14 districts are in the red, indicating a rainfall deficit, down from 22 districts last Tuesday.

The state authorities remain vigilant and are closely monitoring the situation as they work towards managing the consequences of the ongoing downpour and ensuring the safety of residents.