JOIN USThe State, on an average, has received 28 per cent excess rain in the 57 days considered as the peak monsoon season. The only two districts which have not received sufficient rain are Yadgir and Tumkur districts.
The State has received 558.2 mm rain so far from June 1 to July 27. This is against the normal rain of 437.7 mm.
Among the 30 districts, Shimoga, in the Malnad belt, has received 81 per cent more rain than normal. From June till now, the district has received 1627 mm against the normal 897.8 mm. If the departure from the normal is more than 20 per cent, then it is considered excess rain.
Director incharge of Meteorological department B Puttanna said that though parts of Belgaum and Bellary districts are facing floods, it is not because of heavy rain, but because of incessant rains in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. There may not be much difference in the situation for the next two to three days, he said.
The officer said among the three weather divisions in the State, it is the coastal districts which have experienced heavy rain. While the actual rain recorded was 2400 mm, the normal rain is 1896.2 mm, a departure of +27 per cent.
North Karnataka, with 11 districts, has received 14 per cent more rain than the normal 219.8 mm, while South Karnataka, with 16 districts, received 451.4 mm, compared to the normal rain of 313.6 mm. In all, while coastal and South Karnataka have received excess rain, North Karnataka has received normal rainfall.
In North Karnataka, Bidar has received as high as 55 per cent more rain than normal, while Yadgir has recorded (-)34 per cent. In case of Tumkur district, it is (-)21 per cent. Bangalore Urban and Rural districts have received normal rain by recording an additional 11 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively.
“We see Belgaum facing floods. But the district has received just five per cent more than normal rain. The floods in Krishna river are causing problems. However, the rains are receding in Maharashtra. Floods are due to various reasons, including siltation in the river course,” Puttanna said.
The State will continue to receive good rain in the next three days, he said.
Sources in the Drought Monitoring department said nine houses in Belgaum taluk, 14 houses in Hukkeri taluk and three in Raibagh taluk have been damaged. The estimated loss is Rs 4.05 lakh.
About 16 bridges have become inaccessible in Chikodi, Raibagh and Athani taluks of Belgaum district, due to heavy rain. However, there are alternative roads available for transport. The situation is well under control, the sources said.