Karnataka Heavy Rain: Statewide High Alert for next one week: Minister Krishna Byregowda
There is heavy rain in many districts across the state and many rivers are overflowing. Flood situation has arisen in many districts. In coastal and hilly districts, many places have collapsed due to landslides, which has created anxiety among the people.
In the backdrop of heavy rains, the revenue department is continuously monitoring the situation in coordination with the district administrations. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has instructed the department to take precautionary measures next week.
Speaking to the media after holding a meeting with senior officials and reviewing the situation, he said that the monsoon will accelerate in Bidar, Yadgiri, Vijayapur, Kalaburagi and other districts. He informed that most of these districts have received more rain than usual in July.
He said the department is in touch with the respective District Collectors to take precautionary measures. In the last week, the northern hinterland received 120% more rain than usual. He said that the rainfall in Kalaburgi is 300 percent and in Yadgiri 160 percent. Rainfall has decreased in the surrounding districts of Bangalore. The overall rainfall deficit has reduced from around 55% to 14% by the end of June, he said.
Water level rise in reservoirs
In the last week, 27 people died due to heavy rain and lightning. While the reservoirs had only 23% storage a week ago, the storage level has risen to 40% by this Sunday and is likely to rise to around 50% within a day. He said that the storage in the reservoirs has increased by 144 tmcft in the last seven days and 40 tmcft on Sunday alone.
Krishna Byre Gowda said that CM Siddaramaiah will write a letter to the Center regarding relaxation of the rules for drought declaration. As per the Centre’s rules, drought declaration requires 60% deficit and no rain for three weeks and it needs to be changed to 25% deficit as per states’ requirements, he said.
There is widespread rain in the coastal districts and many rivers are overflowing. In some places huge trees are covered. The fields are also flooded due to overflowing streams and rivers.
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