Orange alert for Kodagu as rain gains momentum; flood alert issued as outflow from KRS to be increased

After a prolonged break, monsoon is active in parts of south interior Karnataka since the last few days and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for Kodagu valid till Monday (August 18, 2025).

Meanwhile, in view of heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Cauvery and its tributaries, the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL) has issued a flood warning for people living on the downstream of the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir as the outflow from the dam will be increased to nearly 50,000 cusecs.

This is due to increase in the rate of inflow to the reservoir, according to CNNL which said that people living on both banks of the river and the low-lying area of river Cauvery should move to safer places and take precautionary measures for safety and security of their lives and property.

The reservoir level at the KRS was 124.46 ft against the maximum level of 124.80 ft at 8 a.m. on Sunday (August 17, 2025), according to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). The gross storage capacity of the reservoir is 49.452 tmc ft against which the present storage is 48.977 tmc ft.

During the 24 hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on August 7, parts of Kodagu received heavy to very heavy rains and Birunani in Virajpet taluk recorded 148 mm of rainfall. Other places which recorded significantly high rainfall included Srimangala (83 mm), Kudlipet (82.6), Madde (77.5 mm) Sampaje (77) Shanivarsanthe (76), Shanthalli (75), Kutta (60.5) Kadanuru (51), Kakatuparambu (50) and Hudikeri and Bhagamandala recorded 41.2 mm each.

The locations with highest rainfall in the region during the last 24 hours included Begar gram panchayat in Chikkamagaluru district which received 204.5 mm of rains followed by Shanuvalli GP with 185 mm. Hodgadahalla GP in Hassan district recorded 171 mm of rainfall while Kyamanahalli, also in Hassan district, registered 160.5 mm of rainfall. Niluvagilu GP in Chikkamagalur received 150.5 mm of rains during the same period, according to KSNDMC.

While the rains have gained fresh traction in the last few days, the period August 1 to 16 was on the deficit side. Kodagu has received 194 mm of rainfall (August 1 to 16) which is 45% below normal. Chikkamagalur which is another major catchment for the tributaries of Cauvery, also recorded below normal rains between August 1 and 16. According to KSDNCM, Chikkamagalur received 125 mm of rains during the period which is 52% below normal.

However, the cumulative rainfall from June 1 to August 16 is under normal category and while Kodagu has received 1624 mm of rains, it is below normal for Chikkamagalur which has received 897 mm of rainfall and it is 21% below normal. Other districts in the region including Hassan, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar fall under normal category while Mandya district has received 204 mm and is under excess category.