Karnataka rains: Rail, bus services partially cancelled, 5 districts on high alert

Bengaluru, Aug 15: With heavy rains expected in many parts of the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Kumaraswamy on Wednesday directed collectors of various districts to be on their toes to combat any untoward situation.

Out of 30 districts, as many as five districts namely, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga have been kept on high alert, reports ANI.

The Chief Minister also urged the concerned officials in the said districts to review the situation in their vicinities and update the authorities in case of emergency.

Torrential rains, which lashed the state on August 14 caused landslides and disrupted the normal life in the state.

"All premium bus services from Bengaluru towards Mangaluru, Dharmasthala (in Dakshina Kannada district) and Kundapura (in Udupi district) have been cancelled due to landslides," the state-run Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had said in a statement.

Trains including Karwar-Yeshwanthpur Express, Yeshwanthpur-Mangalore Junction Express, were partially cancelled and few other trains diverted, the South Western Railway said in a statement.

Indian Metrological Department (IMD) has also predicted high-alert of heavy rainfall in the region in coming days.

"Due to the southwest monsoon being rigorous over the coastal and south interior districts, exceptionally heavy to very heavy rainfall was received in the region," the Bengaluru division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its weather advisory.

In the neighbouring state of Kerala, 67 people lost their lives and around 17,000 people were displaced after their homes were washed away in the flash