Heavy rains lash many parts of Karnataka, allaying fear of drought

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Karnataka, especially the coastal and southern region, brought hopes of a good harvest for farmers staring at a drought-like situation due to inadequate rains in the last two months. According to Meteorological Department, there were heavy rains as southwest monsoon was active over the state and rainfall occurred at most places over coastal Karnataka, south interior region and at many places over northern areas. There was very heavy rainfall in several parts of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi and Kodagu districts.

Heavy rains, accompanied by high-velocity winds, continued to lash several parts of the twin coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi on Sunday. With the monsoon intensifying in the coast once again, several trees were uprooted in the two districts damaging houses and electric poles since Saturday, officials said. In Mangaluru, some houses were damaged when a huge tree got uprooted on the campus of the zilla panchayat office in Kottara.

A man sustained a head injury during the incident. Several trees fell in Daddalkad, Urwa and Pakkaladka in the city. The water level in Nethravati river has risen steadily since Sunday morning, touching the danger mark.

With this, the low-lying areas have been flooded with river water. Water also entered a school playground and caused huge losses to arecanut growers following destruction of standing crops. Officials directed the people in flood-affected areas to shift themselves to safer places.