Bengaluru: Heavy rains in various parts of Karnataka over the past 24 hours have claimed three lives, led to landslides in eight places and evacuation of about 9,000 people, while the government has sounded a red alert in seven districts.
The Indian Coast Guard said that it conducted a day-long rescue operation in the flood-hit Uttara Kannada District and rescued 161 people from Khargejoog village, Unglijoog, Kharejoog and Bodojoog Islands.
The Indian Railways cancelled a few trains due to landslides between Sonalium- Kulem, and Dudhsagar-Caranzol.
The Goa Express Special train was stopped at the Londa station in Belagavi district and passengers were served food.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who reviewed the flood situation with top officials on Friday, directed all district in charge ministers and MLAs to oversee relief work in their areas and ordered cancellation of leave of officials, who are responsible for flood relief work.
He said the government would extend all necessary support to relief and rescue efforts and assist farmers who suffered losses due to the untimely rain and hailstorms.
Yediyurappa directed officials to send the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force personnel to the needy districts and open relief camps.
He urged them to seek Indian Army’s help and helicopters in relief operations.
He also instructed the officials to submit a proposal for financial assistance if it was required.
Dr Manoj Rajan, Commissioner, Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, said parts of Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, Dharward, Haveri, Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada are facing the brunt of floods due to incessant rains over the past few days.
The rivers Krishna, Cauvery, Tungabhadra, Bhima, Kapila (Kabini) and many others in Malnad and coastal Karnataka are in spate, the KSDMA officer said.
Details shared by him showed that 131 villages in 18 Taluks are badly hit, affecting 16,213 people.
While three people lost their lives, two are missing.The rains damaged 21 houses completely and 804 houses partially.
Sixty-five bridges, 10 schools and a primary health centre were damaged, while 291.03 km of roads were washed away.
So far, 8,733 people have been evacuated to safety.
The state has opened 80 relief camps where 4,964 people are staying.
Landslides were reported in eight places, including Virajpet in Kodagu district and Arabail Ghat in Uttara Kannada district.
A red alert has been sounded in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Kodagu districts for the next 24 hours in view of a possible heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and an orange alert, in Belagavi and Dharwad, the officer said.
The rains have also led to filling up of most of the reservoirs in Karnataka, including Almatti, Bhadra, KRS, Kabini, Harangi, Hemavathi, Narayanapura, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha, he said.
Meanwhile, the ICG said in a statement that its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and rescue operations were pressed into service at short notice to carry out rescue operations in the islands in Uttara Kannada District.
It said the armed forces were in constant touch with the civil administration of the affected state.
“ICG Forces teams are aware of the need to keep the road and rail links open to ensure uninterrupted supply of life saving oxygen and drugs required for treatment at COVID-19 hospitals. The ICG Force remain ready to mitigate the impact of the incessant heavy rains , save lives and provide succour to the fellow citizens,” the statement added.
