Rain subsides in Uttara Kannada, but landslide threat looms over coastal districts

Bengaluru: Heavy showers continued to lash Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, while Uttara Kannada, and Malnad districts received rains with less intensity, on Friday.

Mangaluru city and parts of Dakshina Kannada district received sharp showers in spells throughout the day. The district has received an average rain of 38 mm in the last 24 hours. Mulki witnessed the highest 93 mm of rain while Moodbidri received 78 mm.

Mudslips were reported at several places in the district. A footbridge over a stream collapsed at Kallumare in Vittal taluk, causing grave hardship to the people. Heavy rain left many parts of Byndoor and Brahmavar towns in Udupi district flooded.

After pounding Karwar and coastal towns in Uttara Kannada district for two days, the intensity of rain has reduced drastically on Friday. But minor landslides were reported at the fragile hills near Habbuwada and Binaga. Traffic on national highway was hit badly after a portion of hill caved in on it near Sankrubagh Ghat curve. 

Meanwhile, the Benni Halla stream has continued to unleash flood fury in Gadag and Bagalkot districts. The Malaprabha river, equipped with Benni Halla waters, has  flooded vast tracts of farmland, damaging crops on thousands of acres in Badami and Guledgud taluks.  A bridge on Shivayogi Mandira-Mangalore road has gone under floodwaters, closing traffic completely. A bridge on the Bagalkot-Gadag road near Cholchagud facing threat of submergence.

The traffic on Asangi-Aihole road has been closed after a barrage-cum-bridge was submerged. The overflowing Benni Halla and Malaprabha have completely submerged Aihole and Nagarala barrages.  

Seeds sown for kharif season at scores of villages, including Hebballi, Jakanuru, Neeralagi, Nasabi, Hirenasabi, Chimmalagi, Shirabadagi, have been damaged in the Malaprabha floods.

The body of a 54-year-old man, who was washed away in an overflowing drain at Ganesh Nagar in Hubballi on Wednesday night, was found near Karkihalla stream bridge at Belagali on Friday. The victim has been identified as Hussainsab Kalasa, a resident of Beerband Oni in Hubballi.

An RTC bus got stuck in the floodwaters of a stream near Ramawadagi in Hungund taluk, The Hungund-Karadi route bus struck in the flash floods when it was passing through the bridge. Villagers pulled the bus out of the bridge with the help of a tractor.

Almatti reservoir across Krishna river in Bagalkot district has been clocking copious inflows owing to good rainfall in its catchment in Maharashtra and Karnataka. On Friday, the reservoir received 18,000 cusec. The outflow from the dam has been increased to 6,000 cusec. As on June 13, the dam has 62.271 tmcft of water as against its maximum storage capacity of 123.081 tmcft.

Parts of Kalyana Karnataka districts also witnessed intermittent spell of light to moderate showers. A shepherd was struck dead by lightning at Halammapur in Surpur taluk on Thursday evening. Mareppa Devadi (21) was taking shelter under a tree when he was struck by a lightning bolt. The Surpur police have registered a case.