Kodagu district faces rain fury

Madikeri, Karnataka, July 2 (UNI) Torrential rains lashed the hilly Kodagu district today, resulting in Harangi reservoir across river Cauvery nearing its brim, even as authorities evacuated people in the low lying areas to safer places.

Southwest monsoon continued to be active over the coastal districts of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and western ghat districts of Chikmagalur and Shimoga.

Revenue officials said the Harangi reservoir had touched 2,855.12 ft this afternoon as against its full level of 2,959 ft. The authorities have decided to open the crest gates, either tonight or tomorrow. The inflow into the reservoir was 10,113 cusecs.

Heavy rains, accompanied by gale, lashed many parts of the district since this afternoon. Bhagamandala and Napoklu were cut off from the rest of the district as overflowing rivers inundated the two small towns. Hundreds of trees fell due to gusty wind and telephone and electric poles uprooted in some places.

Four persons were hospitalised after trees fell on their vehicles while they were driving. While one person was injured in Napoklu when a tree fell on his van, two others were injured when their jeep met with an accident. The driver, while trying to avoid a falling tree, drove the vehicle into a coffee estate, resulting in injuries to the two persons. In Kadanga, a tree fell on a van and a compound wall of a house, injuring the driver.

People living in low lying areas like Bhagamandala, Bethri, Karadigodu and Dubare were shifted to safer places as water entered their houses, the officials said.

The Met office issued a warning to fishermen that strong onshore winds from the westerly direction with speed occasionally reaching 55 to 60 kmph were likely off Karnataka coast during the next 24 hours. Heavy rain might also occur at isolated places over Coastal Karnataka and ghat areas of South Interior Karnataka during the next 48 hours.

UNI XR-RS GD GM1955