Heavy rains continue to lash Malnad districts

Heavy rain continued to lash a major part of the Malnad region on Tuesday, affecting life. Schools and colleges in rain-hit areas remain closed for the day, and people in low-lying areas are worried about flooding. Incidents of landslips have been reported in many places, affecting vehicle movement.

Heavy rain continued to lash a major part of the Malnad region on Tuesday, affecting life. Schools and colleges in rain-hit areas remain closed for the day, and people in low-lying areas are worried about flooding. Incidents of landslips have been reported in many places, affecting vehicle movement.

The rivers are all in spate, and the inflow into reservoirs has been increasing. The officers have issued a warning to people residing close to the downstream of Tunga reservoir in Shivamogga as the river has swollen with recent rain in the catchment area. Besides that, a few houses have been damaged, and trees and electric poles have been uprooted.

Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade told the media that the district received 82% excess rainfall in the last three days. The district administration had taken all measures necessary to ensure the safety of the public.

“We have received reports of nine houses damaged by rain. The officers of Revenue, Police, Forest, Fire and Emergency and other departments have been working in coordination. The urban local bodies have been instructed to be prepared to any eventuality,” he said. The officer said the measures had been taken to avoid flooding in low-lying areas.

Landslips have been reported in Shivamogga, Hassan, and Chikkamagaluru districts. Heavy rain caused landslips at Kuruvalli-Balebailu bypass in Tirthahalli on Monday evening, forcing the local administration to temporarily stop the movement of vehicles on the stretch NH-169A. The officials deputed the staff with earthmovers to clear the road. Similarly, the incessant rain damaged the retaining wall constructed alongside NH-75 near Gulagalale in Sakaleshpur taluk of Hassan. The recently laid concrete road has also developed cracks. There are reports of landslips in Kalasa taluk, Chikkamagaluru.

A portion of the road connecting Koppa and Chikkamagaluru caved in near Narve following heavy rains on Monday night. The local police placed barricades to divert vehicles. The travellers on the road have been advised to take the alternative Narve Circle-Nagalapura-Koppa route. Those travelling to Chikkamagaluru from Koppa have been asked to take Handagara-Kalkere- Chikkamagaluru. The Hebbale bridge constructed on the road connecting Kalasa and Horanadu has submerged in water.

A car fell into a tank near Mathadakoplu in Alur taluk as the driver lost control over the vehicle during heavy rain on Tuesday. Alert villagers rescued the four passengers. With the help of an earth mover, the car was lifted from the water. A house in Belur taluk was damaged in a tree fall.