Karwar: Following heavy rain and predictions of more rain to follow, 1,886 people have been shifted to 50 temporary rehabilitation centres in Uttara Kannada district. In the last 24 hours, Uttara Kannada district witnessed 1927.2 mm of rain with Siddhapur registering the highest of 223.5 mm.
The total rainfall received in Uttara Kannada district in one day is said to be the highest in recent times. A holiday was declared for schools and colleges in all the taluks that witnessed heavy rains.
The overflowing rivers resulted in flooding of the Kumta-Sirsi Highway and also Ankola- Yellapur Highway. Similarly vehicular movement on the Karwar-Belagavi road via Mallapur was affected. Vehicle movement was stopped on 12 bridges in Haliyala which were flooded.
With the catchment areas of Bommanahalli, Kodasalli and Kadra dams receiving heavy rain, Deputy Commissioner Dr Harish Kumar had ordered people living on the river banks downstream the dams to shift to temporary rehabilitation centres. About 1.75 lakh cusecs of water was let out from the Kadra reservoir on Tuesday.
The Indian Navy diving teams along with their boats helped people shift to safer places in villages near Kadra dam. Similarly the Coast Guard too assisted people in Kumta and Kadra.
In Karwar town, about 459 people were shifted to temporary centres. As there is an alert on high rainfall, the Deputy Commissioner has banned tourists and the public from visiting the seashore for the next 48 hours. One man is said to have died when a tree fell on his bike in Honnavar taluk and a woman is said to have died in Kumta.
In Udupi district too, heavy rain and wind caused havoc with about 67 houses damaged.
A peepal tree fell on Netravathi Express due to heavy rain and wind on Tuesday morning. However there was no casualty.
In Dakshina Kannada district, the rivers are brimming and several low lying areas are flooded. Officials have declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Sullia, Kadaba, Belthangady, Puttur and Bantwal taluks on Tuesday. A holiday has also been declared for all schools and colleges in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts on Wednesday.
