JOIN USState wakes up to a damp holiday
Torrential rains hampered normal life in most parts of Karnataka on Thursday. The downpour affected Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations. The rains, which began Tuesday night, continued throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
The Malnad district of Shimoga and the districts in the plains like Davangere, Tumkur and Chitradurga received ample rain. Maize and sugarcane crops were destroyed in some parts of Mayakonda in Davangere taluk. The overall rainfall received in the district stood at 3.1 cm, with the highest of six cm in Davangere taluk. The water level in the Tungabhadra river is 4.55 metre.
The groundnut crop in Molkalmur taluk of Chitradurga, which was withering, is now rotting due to excess rain. However, in Shimoga district, farmers heaved a sigh of relief following the downpour. But the maize crop, which was ready for harvest, is likely to be affected.
Tumkur district received an average taluk-wise rainfall of 1.2 cm, with a wind speed of 25 kmph between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Tovinakere in Koratagere taluk received the highest rainfall of 14.4 cm.
Many tanks in the district, particularly Koratagere taluk, are overflowing. A huge tree on Shadi Mahal Road in Tumkur city was uprooted due to the downpour and it fell on a vehicle. No loss of life was reported.
There were downpours in the districts of Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Raichur and Uttara Kannada throughout Thursday. The rain is likely to affect standing paddy crops in Dharwad, Belgaum and Uttara Kannada districts. But farmers in other districts of North Karnataka are happy as the downpours would help them get a better yield and begin sowing activities for the rabi season.
There were reports of damage to houses in Kolar city and in Malur taluk of Kolar district.
Rains continued in the old Mysore districts of Mysore, Hassan, Mandya and Chamarajanagar, but with lesser intensity than Wednesday. Met department sources said the wet conditions will continue till Saturday.
At the Rajyotsava function in Mysore, students and police personnel marched amidst the drizzle, while the dignitaries held umbrellas. Chamarajanagar received 45 mm of rainfall.
The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada district and Udupi district received moderate rainfall on Thursday.
In Bellary, the rain has come as a saviour for crops that were withering. It has also encouraged the farmers to take up sowing activities for the next season. In some cases, though, the downpour destroyed crops ready for harvest.
Woman dies
In a rain-related incident, Changamma, 65, died when a wall of her house collapsed at Gummakallu village of Mulbagal taluk. Several other houses also collapsed due to rain in the taluk.