BENGALURU:As many as 104 people lost their lives due to various rain-related incidents in the period between April 1 and June 10 this year. Of the 104, 94 died owing to lightning, while 10 people died due to drowning, tree fall or wall collapse.Of the 104 deaths, the highest number of deaths were reported in the coastal district of Uttara Kannada where 10 people lost their lives. Rainfall also caused seven casualties each in Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi, Ballari and Mandya districts, according to the Revenue Department.
Addressing a press meet, R V Deshpande, Revenue and Skill Development Minister, said that a relief of Rs 4 lakh has been paid to the kin of victims. “Till date, a total of Rs 8.63 crore has been distributed as relief for loss of human life, cattle death and house damage in different parts of the state,” he said.Of the total relief paid, Rs 4.16 cr has been paid for loss of human life, Rs 2.87 crore for damage to houses and Rs 1.6 crore to cattle deaths during the period.
Of the 2,298 houses damaged during the period in the state, 608 were in Dakshina Kannada which received up to 300 mm rainfall — the highest for a single day in May — recently. Extreme weather conditions during the last week of May also caused damages to 558 houses in Belagavi, 265 in Dharwad and 240 houses in Udupi districts.
Of the 2,298 houses, 2,101 were partially damaged, while 189 was fully damaged. While partially damaged houses get a relief of Rs 5,200, fully damaged houses get a relief of Rs 95,100 from the government. A total of 332 cattle also died due to various rain-related incidents.
Deshpande said that steps have been taken to prevent the loss of life caused due to landslides along NH-66, where expansion of highway is being taken up. People living in areas susceptible to rainfall have been shifted to safer areas, he said.
Rains in catchment areas raise water level
Shivamogga: Following incessant rain in the catchment areas of Tunga, Bhadra and Linganamakki reservoirs, the water level in the reservoirs has gone up considerably in the past two days. With an increase in the water inflow into the Tunga reservoir, officials of the Upper Tunga Project opened 11 out of 21 gates to release water into Tunga river. The river is flowing almost to the brim after a gap of three years.
Landslide halts railway traffic
Hassan: Train traffic between Yeshwanthpur-Mangaluru-Karwar was disrupted following landslide between Edakumari and Kadagaravalli in Sakleshpur on Monday. Railway sources say the landslide occurred in four places within a 15 km area following heavy rains in last four days. Technical and mechanical railway teams cleared the debris from the tracks. Over 2, 000 passengers were inconvenienced who were then ferried to their destinations via Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses. Six KSRTC buses were pressed into service.
5 major landslides at Charmadi Ghat
Mangaluru: Traffic between Mangaluru and Bengaluru came to a standstill for hours as landslides were reported in Charmadi Ghat in Belthangady taluk on Monday. Huge mounds of earth and trees fell on the road bringing the traffic to a grinding halt. Heavy rain in the region for more than a week has led to the landslide. Locals rushed to the spot to clear the road. Traffic began to move after 5 pm. Meanwhile, Hosmata bridge in Kadaba was submerged (in pic) and traffic on Uppinangady- Subramanya road was hit for hours. Rains slowed in Mangaluru city after damage to property at KS Rao road.
Heavy rains disrupt life in Hassan
Hassan: Heavy rains have put life out-of-gear in Hassan district. District authorities declared holidays for educational institutions in Alur and Sakleshpur taluk on Monday following. Sakleshpur saw the highest rainfall in the district in the last couple of days in which not only trees were uprooted but also properties were damaged. Water level in Hemavathi river has risen drastically with the bridge connecting Somavarpet and Belur submerging. Villagers here are facing a lot of difficulties in reaching the taluk centre.