Heavy Rains Lash Karnataka, Kerala & Tamil Nadu; Red Alert Issued

Torrential rains over the past few days, mainly in north interior Karnataka, has wrecked havoc in the state.

Residents salvage their household items after a house collapsed following rains, in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka.

(Photo: PTI)

The Northeast Monsoon has intensified in southern India and as a result the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Torrential rains over the past few days, mainly in north interior Karnataka, has wreaked havoc, with many rivers, rivulets and small streams being in spate, reminiscent of the floods in August this year.

The affected districts include Dharwad, Belagavi, Gadag, Haveri, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Bagalkot, Shivamogga and Chikmagalur, among others, where water has gushed into houses and government buildings in low-lying areas, according to PTI.

Interior parts of Dakshina Kannada (DK) and Udupi districts have also experienced moderate to heavy rains in the last three days.

Official sources said 12 people have been killed in the recent rains and floods in various parts of the state.

Forty five heads of cattle have perished and 5,444 houses have been damaged.

Heavy Rains in Coastal & Malnad Regions Over Next 24 Hours

Meanwhile, the state cabinet on Tuesday decided to depute its ministers to the flood affected regions to oversee rescue and relief work.

The outflow from dams was also being monitored, an official release said, adding that inflow in the Krishna river basin was likely to increase as parts of Maharashtra are likely to receive heavy rains.

It said the met department has predicted normal rains in most parts of north interior Karnataka for the next four to five days and heavy rains in coastal and Malnad regions for the next 24 hours.

Orange and red alerts have been sounded for the next five days in coastal and Malnad regions, they said.

Dams in Krishna and Cauvery basins have touched its full level, officials said, adding that outflow has been increased for proper water management

Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Likely to Receive Rains for Next 2 Days

Various parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry continued to receive good spells of rain, with the regional weather office on Tuesday, 22 October, forecasting more showers for the next two days.

While a low pressure area has formed over Bay of Bengal, a similar system continued in the Arabian Sea, S Balachandran, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, said.

The low pressure area over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal would intensify in the next 24 hours and move north-northwestwards, Balachandran said.

The weather office forecast rains in most parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next two days, with very heavy rainfall likely in districts along the Western ghats –The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Theni.

Heavy rains were likely in Chennai, Villupuram, Cauvery delta districts, Ramanathapuram and Puducherry among others, he said.

Rameswaram, Thangachimadam, Aranthangi, Mohanur, Salem, Kancheepuram and Thanjavur also received good rainfall.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Tuesday chaired a review meeting in light of the ongoing northeast monsoon and issued directives to officials, including deputing trained personnel to the Nilgiris, which has been experiencing incessant spells.

Kerala Witnesses 40% Surplus Rains

Kerala has also been receiving good rains since the beginning of October. On Monday, 21 October, the southern state witnessed fairly moderate rains with few light spells, according to Skymet Weather.

Kerala received a surplus rain by 40 percent as of 21 October, according to the weather watchdog. The rain surplus is likely to increase further in the next two to three days due to good rain forecast.

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday, pulled up the Kochi city corporation for its alleged inaction in clearing drainage causing flood-like water-logging in the city, according to PTI.

Many houses and commercial establishments in the city including M G Road, Banerjee Road, Kaloor, Panampilly Nagar, Ernakulam South and Edappally were inundated in the rains leaving residents and shop owners stranded.

Many areas in Kochi city were declared flood affected by the Ernakulam district administration and camps were opened to relocate the people affected by rains.

(With inputs from PTI.)