Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Oct 5: The drought hit and electricity deficient state received good rains on Saturday and Sunday which has come as a big relief. Rains were reported from throughout the state in the last two days.

Bengaluru received 50 mm of rain which is considered as above moderate. Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Tumakuru, Mysuru, Hassan, Davanagere, Belagavi, Koppal, Dharwad, Kalburgi, Bidar, Yadagiri, Bagalkote, Haveri and Chitraduraga districts received good rains on Sunday.

Mangaluru received moderate rains early in the morning and later in the evening. Beltangady received the highest rain in Dakshina Kannada. The area between Mangaluru and Haleyangady on the national highway witnessed good rains in the evening. Puttur, Venur, Kinnigoli, Shirva, Kundapur, Kollur, Padubidri Koteshwar Beejady, Udupi and Manipal areas have received good rains. Karkal received rains mainly later at night. Some places witnessed heavy lightening too.

8 lose lives, damages to crops and properties reported

Heavy rains coupled with lightning especially in North Karnataka have claimed 8 lives. Kalburgi district alone reported 5 persons dying because of lightning. One died in Yadagiri due to lightning.

One person in Moraba in Dharwad district and a woman in Bennehalli in Davanagere district died because of floods in the streams.

Heavy losses to properties and crops have been reported in the state especially in North Karnataka. Koppal, Chitraduraga and Tumkur districts have reported heavy losses in banana and onion crops.

So far the deficiency in rains in the state is 21 % not accounting the rains for past two days. The water level in major reservoirs is just above 54 %. Hydrological drought is still severe. Only more rains can save the state, say experts.