Rainfall, winds leave their mark

Rainfall, winds leave their mark

Karnataka Bureau
Schools, colleges in Kodagu close

‘Rainfall deficit in the State has been bridged'

Bangalore: Almost every part of the State — coastal and interior — saw a heavy downpour on Thursday, causing tree falls, building collapses and flooded roads, and forcing several schools to close.

In Udupi, 12 students of a Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School at Manipur village suffered injuries when a Mayflower tree fell on the building following rain and strong winds. The injured children were rushed to the District Government Hospital in Udupi. A Government Junior College at Bada village was also damaged when a tree fell on it. As many as 19 houses were damaged in the district. There were reports of sea erosion at Tenka Yermal village. The total damage caused to property in the district has been estimated at Rs. 3,67,600.

Following incessant rainfall in Kodagu district, and the steadily rising levels of the river Cauvery, the administration has declared holidays for schools and PU colleges on Friday and Saturday.

It has been three days since the Bhagamandala-Madikeri and Bhagamandala-Aiyyangeri have been under water. A number of minor landslips have occurred on the newly-laid Madikeri-Sunticoppa road, and efforts are on to remove the debris to make way for traffic. The raging winds also caused branches to fall. However no loss of life or destruction of property has so far been reported.

Parts of Chikmagalur, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada received “very heavy” rainfall measuring between 15 to 17 cm. Parts of Shimoga, Kodagu and Belgaum saw heavy downpour too. The rainfall has, however, brought about a much-anticipated inflow into State's major dams — Krishnaraja Sagar, Kabini and Harangi.

The rainfall was owing to the low pressure system and upper air circulation — one each in the Bay of Bengal and in the Arabian Sea, said B. Puttanna, Director of the Meteorological Centre. “It is only when these systems cross into the land that the rainfall will abate,” he added. With these torrents, the rainfall deficit in the State has been bridged, said Mr. Puttanna.

After virtually a daylong downpour, Bangalore recorded 39.4 mm rainfall on Thursday.

The State can expect more rain and thundershowers in the next two days, says the Meteorological Centre forecast.