MADIKERI: Heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds has been lashing Kodagu district for the past many days. Shanthalli village of Somwarpet taluk recorded 222 mm rainfall in 24 hours and Bhagamandala was cut off after it recorded a downpour of 88 mm rainfall. The water level in Harangi dam is increasing minute by minute and reached 2,859 feet on Sunday. The inflow into the dam has doubled in the past 24 hours and 3,968 cusecs of water was flowing into the dam with an outflow of 30 cusecs.Madikeri town is witnessing a bountiful rainfall with a five minute interval in between thrashing rain. A tree was uprooted near DC Sreevidya P I’s bungalow destroying the house of DC’s security guard on Sunday morning.
Karike-Bhagamandala road was flooded after heavy downpour and the Cauvery water level at Bhagamandala has increased invariably sending flood alerts. Tourist vehicles were queued along the way to Bhagamandala-Talacauvery following flooded roads. Numerous electric poles have been uprooted in the area cutting Karike village off power for the past four days.
Villagers are pointing fingers at the Department of Public Works for being lethargic. “The pruning of tree branches was not done before monsoon, which has resulted in the disconnection of electricity to the village. Lakhs of rupees have been released for annual maintenance, but no such work has been taken up by the department,” complained a villager of Karike. Abburukatte, Sigehosuru and Bhagamandala were cut off due to flooded roads. Residents of over 150 houses in Karagodu and Guhya villages have been alerted by the Revenue Department. Officials have warned them to move to rehabilitation centres after high flood alert.
While the routine business has been affected due to heavy downpour and chilled weather, it is otherwise businesses as usual at tourist spots. People were seen thronging Mallali Falls, which is flowing with angelic beauty post-heavy downpour. Tour guides and extra security have been allotted on the premises to avoid any mishap.
Rains can’t dampen spirit of Renuka Devi devotees
Belagavi: Heavy rains could not dampen the spirit of thousands of Goddess Renuka Devi devotees, as they waited in a long queue for ‘darshan’ at Yellamma Hills in Saundatti taluk on Sunday. So much rain has been pounding the area, that floodwaters reached the Renuka Devi temple compound, but did not enter the temple. As the queue of devotees was too long, many of them had to stand in the open.
Beaches cordoned off to prevent revellers from getting into water
Mangaluru: REVELLERS wanting to splash around in the frothy waters of Mangaluru’s pristine beaches will have to put off their plans for at least two months. To prevent drowning incidents, the district administration has placed restrictions that will be implemented in a week’s time and will last until the end of July. While there is no problem in having a view of the beach, access to frothy waters in eight beaches — Someshwar, Ullal, Mogaveerpatna, Tannirbavi one and two, Panambur, Sasihithlu, and Mukka — will be completely denied.The beaches are cordoned off with warning boards and ribbons barricades. Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project CEO Yatish Baikampady said precautionary measures were put in place as the beach has already grown very rough. “We have cordoned off the place till the high tide limit,” he said.
Life in Belagavi comes to a halt
Monsoon arrived in Belagavi on Sunday as the city experienced heavily rainfall, forcing most people to opt for the sanctuary of their homes, and not go venturing out on the day.Waterlogged roads disrupted traffic at several locations in the city. Overflowing gutters and drainage were commonly in several places. Many customers were seen at shops selling umbrellas and rainwear. Vendors and food hubs selling tea, coffee did booming business all day. Bars and wine stores too were seen crowded.Ares including Old Pune-Bangalore Road near the railway overbridge, New Gandhi Nagar near Pune-Bangalore National Highway, Rukmini Nagar slum and other low-lying areas in the city were flooded due to the heavy rains. Power supply in several areas was affected, with some areas going without electricity all through the day.Arterial roads of the city like the one at Kittur Rani Channamma Circle, Khanapur Road, Hindawadi Main Road and Vadgaon Main Road were seen inundated with water due to choked gutters. Vehicles, especially two-wheelers were seen travelling at a snail’s pace. In the process, the apathy of Belagavi City Corporation in maintaining storm-water drains in the city came to the fore.