Rain havoc toll in Karnataka mounts to 156

Army, Navy and IAF are lending a helping hand to the State to tackle the havoc wrought by the unseasonal rains that has brought vast swathes of land under sheets of water and caused damage to over one lakh houses.

Official sources said that in the worst-hit Bijapur district, the number of deaths has risen to 30.

Neighbouring Bagalkote accounted for 20 rain-related deaths since September 28, followed by Raichur (19), Gulbarga (18), Koppal (17), Bellary (12), Davangere (nine), Chitradurga (eight), Gadag (seven), Belgaum (six), Uttara Kannada (five), Bidar (four) and Dharwad (one).

State Home Minister V S Acharya said torrential rains had damaged 1,03,291 houses and Government has opened 479 relief camps where 1,23,653 people have taken shelter.
Eight helicopters and 38 boats are part of the rescue and relief operations.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa along with Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy conducted an aerial survey of the affected districts of Bellary, Koppal and Raichur.
Yeddyurappa also covered the submerged temple town of Mantralaya, where the 16th century saint Raghavendra Swami was believed to have attained 'jeevasamadhi' in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district, bordering the state.

Official sources said the toll was likely to go up as around 15-20 persons were feared buried under mounds following landslide in a hillock at Kadawada village in Uttara Kannada from where two bodies have been recovered.

The National Disaster Response Team, which arrived from Pune, has been pressed into service to assist in the relief and rescue operations. Another team from Arakonam in Tamil Nadu is also expected to arrive.

Health Minister Sriramulu, who completed an aerial survey of Bellary, Koppal and Gadag districts, has issued a circular to the health department staff to respond to calls from the district administration immediately and provide necessary medical assistance to those suffering due to the rain fury.

Tourism and Infrastructure Development Minister, G Janardhan Reddy monitored the relief measures including rescue operations and supervised the air dropping of food packets to those marooned in places along the Tungabhadra.

The rain fury and subsequent inundation of bridges has led to cancellation of 14 trains and diversion of 10 trains, South Western Railway officials said.