BENGALURU: After about a month’s delay, the monsoon is finally active over Karnataka and many parts of the state are expected to receive heavy rain, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.
The state is expected to receive continuous rain for five days from today and the IMD has sounded a red alert for the coastal districts, orange alert for south-interior Karnataka and a yellow alert for north-interior Karnataka. The three coastal districts can expect heavy rain accompanied by lightning and thunder and may receive 115-210 mm of rain.
An orange alert has been sounded for Chikkamagalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Bengaluru Rural, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Mysuru and Tumakuru in south-interior Karnataka while a yellow alert has been sounded for Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Raichur in north-interior Karnataka. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea while those living in close to the coast and in low-lying areas have been advised caution.
“There is an east-west wind shear zone and also a trough is seen in the Arabian Sea from the Gujarat coast to Kerala which will bring rain for the next five days. There can be heavy rain in the coastal and south-interior districts today and tomorrow. Some parts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts may receive very heavy rainfall today and a red alert has been issued. In south-interior Karnataka, Hassan, Chikkamagalur, Shivamogga and Kodagu districts will see very heavy rain and an orange alert has been issued”, said Prasad, a meteorologist.
Further, he said that a yellow alert has been issued for Belagavi, Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri and Raichur in north-interior Karnataka, and Chitradurga, Davanagere, Mysuru and Bengaluru Rural districts in south-interior Karnataka.
“On Thursday, an orange alert has been sounded for Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagalur and Kodagu districts in south-interior Karnataka and Ballari, Gadag, Dharwad and Belagavi districts in north-interior Karnataka. Very heavy rain is expected in some parts of these districts”, he said. “In Bengaluru and nearby areas, the weather will be cloudy today and tomorrow with light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder”, he added.
Meanwhile, several places across the state witnessed heavy rain overnight. At Mannaekhelli in Bidar taluk, an underpass was flooded, affecting traffic flow, and many motorists were stuck in their vehicles for hours. Bidar, Chitaguppa and other parts also received heavy rain.
In Uttara Kannada district, Karwar, Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal and Ankola taluks received heavy rain and the KSRTC depot and Karwar was completely flooded, affecting bus schedules.
Several parts of Kodagu district, including Madikeri, Napoklu, Suntikoppa, Virajpet and Gonikoppal witnessed overnight rain while there were reports of trees and electric poles falling down. More rain is expected in the coming days too.
With continuous rain over the last two days, the Tunga dam at Gajanur has been receiving heavy inflow of water. The water level in the reservoir stood at 587.54 mt against a maximum of 588.24 mt and the dam authorities may start releasing water soon.
The Baje dam at Hiriyadka in Udupi district has also reached full capacity with the Swarna river water level rising. The district authorites have declared a holiday for schools and colleges.