Heavy rain likely to continue

However, Coastal Karnataka will continue to receive heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours due to offshore troughs in the Kerala and Maharashtra coasts.

Metereological Department Official B Puttanna told Deccan Herald that rains will continue to recede in the northern parts of the State in the next 48 hours. “Bijapur, Gulbarga and Bidar districts will continue to receive isolated showers, but the low pressure areas which caused inundation in North Karnataka has moved over to Vidarbha,” he said. The South West monsoon continued to be vigorous over coastal Karnataka on Sunday and also in South interior Karnataka, he added.

Bhagamandala in Kodagu district received 14 cm of rainfall, while Udupi district received a rainfall of 8 cm on Sunday. Rain and thundershowers have been forecast for the next 24 hours in the three districts of Coastal Karnataka - Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada.

The Met Department has also issued a warning to fisherman as strong winds of 45 to 50 km per hour have been forecast across the coast.

Meanwhile, Kodagu, Hassan and Chikmagalur districts of South interior Karnataka will continue to receive heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours. The forecast for Bangalore too is cloudy with isolated showers over the next two days. Officials at the Met Department said that there was fresh low pressure in the east coast, but it was too early to say if it will cause further rains in the State.

Relief operations

The Indian Air Force (IAF), assisted by units from the Army, continued its assistance to the district administration in flood affected areas for the third consecutive day here on Sunday.

IAF choppers conducted sorties and distributed flood relief material and food packets in places across North Karnataka. Sources said aircraft and personnel from the helicopter training school, Headquarters Training Command, Air Force Station, Tambaram, AFS Hakimpet, the Mi-8 helicopter unit in Yelahanka Air Base and the Southern Air Command took part in the operations. These included two heavy lift AN- 32 transport aircraft.
To supply aviation fuel to the aircraft of the IAF, the Indian Oil Corporation is supplying fuel by road, wherever possible, said IAF officers.

Meanwhile, the State government that has requisitioned eight helicopters from the Ministry of Defence is conducting rescue operations in all flood-affected districts. As many as 105 personnel from National Disaster Response Force with 30 boats have been deployed for rescue operations in the affected areas.

In addition to this, six buses, six trucks and light vehicles have been provided to carry relief materials to the affected areas. 39 boats available in the districts are also being utilised for rescue operations. Services of local people including fishermen are also being sought for rescue and relief operations.