Karnataka rains: Chikkamagaluru DC declares holiday for schools in six taluks on August 18

Many parts of the Malnad region received heavy rains on Sunday, August 17, affecting daily life of the people.

While inflow into the reservoirs remained high, heavy downpours and landslips hit vehicular movement in several areas. Officials were forced to declare holidays for schools in some places.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a red alert for Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts. The alert suggested that several places in these districts could receive more than 204.5 mm of rainfall. For Hassan, the IMD issued an orange alert, suggesting rains in the range of 115.5 mm to 204.5 mm on the day.

Many roads were inundated, and there were reports of trees getting uprooted in parts of Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga. Begar village in Sringeri taluk of Chikkamagaluru received the highest rainfall of 204.5 mm in the State in the 24 hours that ended at 8.30 a.m on Sunday. In Shivamogga district, the highest rainfall of 133.5 mm was recorded at Arehalli in Tirthahalli taluk. Hongadahalla received the highest rainfall of 171 mm in Hassan district.

In Shivamogga, parts of Tirthahalli, Sagara, and Hosanagar taluks have been receiving heavy rains. In Tirthahalli taluk, heavy downpour was reported in Agumbe (97.4 mm), Tirthahamuttur (100.5 mm), Megaravalli (96.5 mm). In Sagar taluk, Kolur (48 mm), Keladi (40mm), Kalmane (37.5 mm) recorded moderate to heavy rainfall.

The inflow into the Linganamakki reservoir built across river Sharavathi has been on the rise. On Sunday, the water level in the reservoir stood at 1,813.5 ft against the full reservoir level of 1,819 ft. Against a total live capacity of 151.64 tmcft, the live capacity is 133.7 tmcft (88.17%).

In Hassan district, parts of Sakaleshpur taluk received more than normal rainfall. Hettur recorded 162 mm of rainfall, while Hanbalu registered 111.8 mm.

Holiday

Chikkamagaluru recorded an average of 34 mm of rainfall against the normal of 17 mm on the day. The highest rainfall of 131.7 mm was registered in Sringeri taluk, while Koppa taluk recorded 108.1 mm of rainfall.

Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner Meena Nagaraj, on Sunday, declared a holiday for anganwadis, primary schools, and high schools in six taluks for Monday, in view of heavy rains. The holiday applies to schools in Koppa, Kalasa, Mudigere, Sringeri, and N.R. Pura taluks, and those located in Avathi, Jagara, Vastare, Alduru, and Khandya hoblis of Chikkamagaluru taluk.