Karnataka Faces Ravaging Rains: Uttara Kannada and Kodagu Bear the Brunt

Jagalbet in Coastal Karnataka received 250 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. Heavy rains have caused significant flooding, especially in Uttara Kannada and Kodagu districts, leading to submerged villages, stranded vehicles, and damaged agricultural land. IMD has issued a red alert for the region.

Jagalbet in Coastal Karnataka recorded the highest rainfall in India over the past 24 hours, amassing 250 mm of precipitation, according to a recent advisory from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on July 15.

Heavy and unrelenting rains continued to pummel numerous parts of Karnataka, prompting the IMD to maintain its red alert warning for the southern interior and coastal regions of the state for July 16.

The relentless downpour has brought several areas to a standstill, particularly in Uttara Kannada and Kodagu as of July 15. In Karwar taluk of Uttara Kannada district, four-lane national highway work and a barricade at the Kadamba naval base have led to severe flooding in surrounding villages. Many villages, including Araga, Chendia, Iduru, and Toduru, are now underwater, with approximately 10 hectares of agricultural land inundated, causing extensive damage to standing crops.

Kodagu district has seen trees and electric poles uprooted, with the Cauvery River's water level breaching danger thresholds. Traffic has become nearly impossible on the Madikeri-Bhagamandal Road due to fallen trees.

According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), a hill has collapsed on the Honnavar Highway, which connects Tumakuru and Honnavar. This landslide has left over 100 vehicles stranded on the highway. The disaster occurred near Kharwa in Uttara Kannada, one of Karnataka's worst-affected districts.

(With inputs from agencies.)