15 people killed as heavy rains lash Karnataka

Bangalore, Aug 6 (UNI) Fifteen people were killed during the last 24 hours as heavy South-west monsoon rains lashed Karnataka districts with renewed vigour causing heavy damages to standing crops and properties in the areas coming under Western ghats and coastal areas.

Reports reaching here said five people each had died in Shimoga and Haveri districts two each of Davangere and Udupi district and one death in Dharwad.

Torrential rains continued in Kodagu, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts.

During the last 24 hours ending 0830 hrs today Humchadakatte in Shimoga recorded 36 centimeters. Agumbe in the same district got 31 cms, while Kottigehara in Chikmagalur received 29 cms.

Very heavy rains was also reported from Mudigere 27, Siddapura 25, Bhagamandala, Linganamakki 23 each, Hosanagar, Koppa 19 each, Bhatkal, Talaguppa, Jayapura 16 each, Kollur, Sagar, Thirthahalli, Shimoga 15 each.

Shimoga bore the brunt of the vigorous monsoon with more than 3000 acres of standing crops coming under water. Major rivers in this land of rivers like Sharavathi, Tunga, Bhadra, Kumudwati and Varada were in spate touching the danger mark.

Tunga and Bhadra waters had inundated hundreds of houses in the twin-cities of Shimoga and Bhadravathi respectively while 50 houses were either partially or fully collapsed.

National highway 213 connecting Chitradurga to Mangalore and Udupi districts had been cut off for traffic as water was overflowing on the highway at Mandagadde and Tuduru.

Linganamakki reservoir across Sharavathi was full and authorities had warned the people living in the downstream, of heavy discharge of water any time. The world famous Jog Falls in the Downstream, presented an awesome scene and attracted thousands of visitors to catch its glimpses amidst torrential rains.

(ED: Pickup suitably from the related series) UNI