Rain lashes parts of state, brings down mercury

Respite from heat in Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Ballari

Heavy to moderate rain in Wayanad district of Kerala, parts of Mysuru, Kodagu and Hassan have raised hopes of adequate inflows into tanks and rivers in the Cauvery basin.

Sources in the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre said the Wayanad region, which contributes significantly to the inflow into the Cauvery basin, has been receiving good rain for the last three days, and it may continue for at least one week.

Similarly, Mysuru, Kodagu, Hassan and Chamarajnagar, which are catchment areas of River Cauvery and its tributaries, too will continue to get rain for at least a couple of days, according to the forecast.

Rain gauges in parts of these districts on Friday recorded heavy rain of about 65 mm till 4.30 pm. In southern Karnataka, except Chitradurga, Davangere and Shivamogga, the rest of the 12 districts received rain on Friday. Heavy rain was also reported from Kalaburagi and Ballari in north Karnataka, where the rain was not as widespread as in the south.

Among the southern districts, Kolar received the maximum rain on Thursday and Friday. The district, which has no perennial source of water and faces severe water scarcity, received good rains last September to November, leaving its tanks full and sparing it of water shortage. Tumakuru too continued to get heavy rain.

Sources in KSNDMC said it is too early for water levels in the reservoirs and tanks to increase in the Cauvery basin since the rain, though heavy, was scattered.

Rain brought relief to Kalaburagi with temperature plunging from 40 degree Celsius to 30 degrees on Friday. Though low lying areas were inundated, there was no respite from the drinking water problem in the city. With the Bhima barrage, the lifeline of the city going bone dry, authorities resorted to supplying water in tankers in several areas of Kalaburagi South. Efforts are on to release about 1 tmcft of water from the Narayanpur reservoir into Bhima but it may be of little help since water will have to flow for about 150 km, crossing many canals and distributaries to join the Saradagi barrage through nalas and streams.