Heavy rain hits life in Kodagu, but water level in Cauvery basin dams yet to go up

Mysuru: Heavy rains continued to lash Kodagu for the third day on Thursday disrupting life in the district. Due to rains in Wyanad, Kodagu, and Chikkamagaluru, the inflow into Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi reservoirs in the Cauvery catchment area has increased drastically. However due to the 30 percent deficit in rain in South Interior Karnataka including the Cauvery catchment area, the water levels at KRS, Harangi and Hemavathi stood much lower on Thursday compared to the same day last year.

On Thursday, Kodagu recorded 121.62mm of rainfall. The district has recorded 1115.78 mm of rain from January till July 20 while last year during the same period, it had received 1068.13mm of rain.

Due to heavy rains in Kodagu, followed by a landslide reported near Perumbadi checkpost, road connectivity to Kerala has been affected. Also road connectivity has been disrupted between Bagamandala-Napoklu, and Bagamandala-Madikeri, Maithadi-Kadanoor, and several places in low level areas in the region turning them into mini islands.

Besides arranging boats, the Kodagu district administration has ensured that swimmers and personnel from the fire and emergency services are stationed at Bagamandala in case of a flood.

Director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, Dr G.S. Srinivas Reddy said, “In south interior Karnataka ,including the Cauvery catchment area, there is 30 percent deficit in the rainfall so far. As high as 85 percent of the entire South-East Monsoon rain in south interior Karnataka is expected by August end.”