Malnad witnesses incessant rain as monsoon gains steam

Bengaluru: The southwest monsoon has gained vigour as heavy rains battered Malnad region on Thursday with Hulikal in Shivamogga district receiving a massive 270 mm of rain in the last 24 hours (ending 8 am on Thursday)

As many as five places in Shivamogga district, including Maani and Agumbe, have recorded more than 150 mm of rain. Heavy showers have swelled rivers, including Tunga, Bhadra, Sharavathi, and infused life into the waterfalls in the district.

Kodagu received heavy rain relentlessly from Wednesday night to Thursday afternoon. The district administration had declared holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday following a heavy rain forecast. The IMD has issued a red alert to the hilly district till Friday morning.

The inflows into Harangi reservoir have gone up considerably. The water level in Cauvery river has increased. The river is flowing above the danger mark at several places in the district.

Many parts of Chikkamagaluru district, including the city and areas in and around Mullayanagiri Hills, have been receiving heavy showers intermittently since Wednesday night.

Unrelenting rain in the Kali river basin in Uttara Kannada has triggered a major landslide on Kadra-Kodisalli road near Balemane in Karwar taluk. A 50-feet section of the hill caved in dumping heaps of mud and rocks on the road, used by the Kodasalli reservoir and KPCL staff. They have to take a boat ride from backwaters to reach the hydel plant, says KPC chief engineer Sridhar Kori.

Kadra and Gotegali in Karwar taluk received 180 mm of rain each in the last 24 hours. A mudslip was reported at Ganesh Nagar in Sirsi.  

The Uttara Kannada district administration has announced a holiday for anganwadis and schools in Sirsi, Siddapur, Yellapur and Joida taluks, and in Kadra of Karwar taluk on Friday.

Meanwhile, heavy discharge from Tungabhadra reservoir has submerged several Hampi monuments, including Purandara Mantap. On Thursday, 39,611 cusec of water was released downstream by opening 12 crest gates. The outflow is expected to go past 60,000 cusec as the reservoir is clocking copious inflows following heavy rain in its catchment areas in Shivamogga. The reservoir, as on July 3, has 78.23 tmcft of water.

Almatti reservoir has continued to receive inflow over 1 lakh cusec, thanks to unyielding showers in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. The outflow from Almatti has cross 1 lakh and is expected to increase further in the next few days.

Trees uprooted on the Kadra-Kodasalli road following a landslide in Karwar taluk of Uttara Kannada district.