Rains resume after week-long break in several North Karnataka districts

Bengaluru: After an early and roaring start, the southwest monsoon has taken a breather. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has observed that the monsoon was weak over most parts of Karnataka, but active in pockets, during the past 24 hours.

Rain resumed after a week-long break in several parts of north Karnataka districts - Dharwad, Belagavi, Gadag, Koppal and Raichur.  A sharp shower on Sunday afternoon left Hubballi-Dharwad waterlogged. After a hot and humid day in the twin cities, skies opened up in the afternoon.

A 40-minute-long rain left many streets and low-lying areas, including Haveripet, Tejaswini Nagar, Hallikeri Chawl and Bendre Compound, in Dharwad flooded. Rainwater, mixed with sewage, gushed into homes giving the residents a tough time in clearing it out. The traffic was hit due to flooding of roads in front of NTTF, court circle and KMF.

Heavy rains that lashed Chachadi in Saundatti taluk, Belagavi district, on Saturday evening flooded more than 10 houses damaging the belongings, including foodgrains and bags of fertilisers stored for the kharif season. Khansab Shiledar, a farmer, alone has lost 50 bags of fertilisers, each weighing 50 kg.

The sharp spells of rain have washed away embankments, leaving the farms flooded.

A brief but sharp spell of rain left the government primary school premises flooded in Lakshmeshwar. Several houses near Someshwar temple were inundated with rainwater. The Pala-Badami state highway was flooded near Gadag Naka, affecting the traffic for over an hour.

Motorists having a torrid time on a flooded road in front of NTTF in Dharwad. The city experienced a sharp spell of rain in the afternoon. DH PHOTOS

A heavy downpour on Saturday evening washed away a makeshift bridge built across a stream at Jagir Venkatapur in Raichur taluk. The village has been cut off. Raichur town and parts of the taluk experienced heavy rain giving the people some respite for scorching heat.

Flash flood caused by the closure of a stream by Baldota company has inundated over 60 acres of maize at Halvarthi village in Koppal taluk and eroded the fertile soil, alleged the farmers. The company representative has assured the aggrieved farmers of due compensation for the damages suffered.  

Bidar town and parts of the taluk also received showers on Sunday morning.