Mangaluru: Incessant rain in parts of the Western Ghats and the foothill region on Saturday led to a sharp rise in the water level of several rivers and streams, triggering flooding in parts of Belthangady taluk, entering a few houses and also causing mudslides in some places. Heavy rain has been forecast at isolated locations in the region over the next 24 hours.
While the NDRF team has rushed to Belthangady, a relief center has been opened at Karnodi school in Laila.
The incessant rain resulted in the increase in the inflow of Netravathi and its tributaries originating in the Ghats causing them to overflow at several downstream locations. Low-lying areas bore the brunt as water entered plantations, submerged roads and cut off connectivity temporarily.
The Netravati River is nearing the danger mark at Bantwal and Uppinangady. The water level was recorded at 8.30 metres in Bantwal against the danger level of 9 metres, while at Uppinangady it stood at 29.20 metres, with the danger mark fixed at 31.5 metres.
Among the flooded locations were Odadakariya Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple in Laila, Guringana, Kutrottu, Putrabail, low lying parts of Laila and a few places in Mundaje. The new bridge at Kutrottu-Chandkuru, went under floodwaters, while the bridge across the river at Sulkeri in Kudyadi village was also submerged. Water flowed over roads at Gundi-Balyarkapu, Karyatodi-Moolaru, and on the main road at Mannasanka near Dharmasthala, slowing vehicular movement. Vehicles were seen moving slowly on the flooded road.
The main road in Ujire town was also waterlogged. A similar situation was reported on the stretch between Ujire School and Benaka Hospital, where traffic moved cautiously.
At Dharmasthala, the bathing ghat (Snanaghatta) was submerged after the river overflowed, while floodwaters also spread near Pajiradka Temple in Kalmanja village.
A mudslide near Gundi Temple blocked the Mundaje-Dharmasthala road, forcing police to barricade the affected stretch and divert traffic. Another minor mudslide was reported near a mobile tower in Mundaje.
Floodwaters entered Ambedkar Nagar in Laila village, affecting a few houses. In plantation areas near Mallamadibailu, residents said they had not witnessed such a rise in water levels in the last few years.
The widespread flooding once again brought the focus back on infrastructure and drainage in the region. While swollen rivers were primarily responsible for the flooding, residents in some areas near Somanthadka, and Ujire opined that the highway expansion works had aggravated the situation by obstructing the natural flow of rainwater in some places.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department’s Flash Flood Guidance Cell has warned of a moderate flash flood risk in parts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada over the next 24 hours.
The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has also forecast extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by winds of 40-50 kmph at isolated places in Dakshina Kannada during the next 24 hours. Udupi is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rain, while Uttara Kannada is likely to experience heavy rainfall with strong winds.
The warning extends beyond the coast, with Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by winds of 50-60 kmph, while Kodagu and Hassan are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rain. In north Karnataka, Belagavi, Dharwad and Haveri have also been forecast to receive heavy rainfall with gusty winds.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
