MYSURU: Heavy rain brought traffic on the busy Bengaluru-Mysuru National Highway to a standstill for more than four hours (from 5 am to 9 am) on Thursday. The downpour that resulted in the breaching of several tanks in Maddur and Keragodu caused flooding of the highway and low-lying areas.
Traffic pile-up ran up to 2-3 km in both directions. Police officials, led by SP Bhushan Gulbarao Borase, and the fire personnel hit the streets to ensure smooth movement of vehicles.
Traffic was diverted fearing further rise in water level.
Vehicles were diverted via Malavalli and Kanakapura and normalcy returned around noon after four to five feet of water on the highway receded.
Police had to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse onlookers.
Social media and messaging services like WhatsApp were flooded with pictures and messages informing about the alternative routes to Bengaluru and Mysuru.
Shimsha in Spate
Shimsha river is in spate following heavy rains in Mandya and Tumakuru districts.
Officials deployed earthmovers to dig up temporary drains to flush out water near Someshwara community hall, Mahadeshwara rice mill, Siddaraju Layout and Government Employees’ Layout.
Hundreds of curious residents gathered near Maddur Circle and the bridge across Shimsha river to have a glimpse of the river.
Boregowda, a resident of Somanahalli, said that he had never witnessed such floods in the village in the last 40 years.
“There are reports of heavy rains from various areas in the district ... if the rains continue to lash this way then the situation will worsen,” he added.
inflow into cauvery increases
The increase in inflow into Cauvery following heavy rains in Mysuru, Mandya and Ramanagaram districts may help farmers of the delta region who have been demanding water from Karnataka to save their rabi crop. Authorities have released 26,000 cusecs of water from the Egalur barrage on Thursday. On Wednesday, 16,000 cusecs was discharged. Local authorities have appealed to the people living in low-lying areas to move to safer places.
Man Drowns in KRS
Mysuru: A 24-year-old man drowned in KRS backwaters on Wednesday. Madhukumar, a resident of Kumbarakoppal was a daily wager at RBI. He had gone to the backwaters for swimming along with his friends. The body was fished out on Thursday. Yelwala police have registered a case.
Paddy, Cane fields inundated
Hundreds of acres of paddy and sugarcane fields were inundated due to the overflowing of two lakes at Keregodu and Hodagatta villages in Mandya taluk. The region has been witnessing heavy rains for the last few days. A house belonging to one Rukmini at Dodda Banasawadi village was damaged and rain water also entered several houses.