Karnataka reels under floods and Covid-19

Monsoon fury and Covid pandemic ravaged Karnataka Thursday. The state reported the highest rainfall of the season and the highest number of new Covid cases as double whammy hit Karnataka.

A large swathe of low-lying areas in northern districts of Belagavi and Ballari went under water and major landslides were reported in Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu in the Malnad region of the state resulting in roads getting blocked and towns and villages remaining cut off.

Kodagu, the same area that witnessed a disaster in 2018 and 2019 monsoon fury, received 117 mm of rainfall during the last 24 hours, resulting in rivers overflowing and flooding low-lying areas and submerging several bridges.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has asked ministers-in-charge of various districts in the state to stay in their respective districts as the state.

The landslide in Brahmagiri hills near Talacauvery in Kodagu swept away two houses in the early hours of Thursday morning. Four persons are missing including a local priest Narayana Achar and his family members.

Very heavy and widespread rains were reported in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada districts in the coast region, and in Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Hassan and Haveri in the state’s Malnad region as the southwest monsoon gained strength.

The state government has released Rs 50 crore for flood relief efforts while the Opposition led by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked the government to set up shelters to house residents who are at risk due to the heavy rains.

The state disaster management centre has sounded a red alert in the coastal, central and south interior areas in south Karnataka due to heavy rains and flooding. The state is bracing for further rains till the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Karnataka recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases for a single day with 6805 testing positive, pushing the total cases to 1,58,254. Bengaluru reported nearly half of the new cases with 2544 testing positive. There were 93 Covid-related deaths, taking the total to 2897.