Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 12: Although the coastal districts had a reprieve from heavy rains on Monday June 11, other parts of the state including hinterland and malnad areas were battered by heavy downpour. Districts like Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, and Davanagere wilted under heavy rain.

Malnad region in particular has been receiving heavy rains since the last four to five days, and the rains and dew created by it have been blocking visibility, affecting transport. Several rivers have flooded and bridges have submerged. As trees fell and hillocks caved in, traffic on Bengaluru-Mangaluru route via Charmadi ghat was affected for about six hours on Monday. The police stopped further blockage of the Charmadi ghat road by stopping vehicles from taking the ghat route at Ujire itself. Because of poor visibility, a serial accident happened at Bargal near Alur in which four suffered serious injuries. Rains have also resulted in fallen electric poles and washing away of fertilizers from fields.

Because of rains, the deputy commissioner of Chikkamagaluru district had declared holiday on Monday for schools and colleges in Moodigere, Koppa, Sringeri and Narasimharajapura taluks. As the PWD officials were found to be wanting in cutting down fallen trees and clearing the roads for traffic, locals voluntarily took up the task. Still, various roads witnessed long lines of waiting vehicles which extended to a couple of kilometres or more.

In Dakshina Kannada district, Beltangady, Kadaba and Subrahmanya received heavy rainfall while other areas had relatively less rain. Nettana bridge, bathing bay and Hosmutt bridge of Subrahmanya got inundated. Farms and plantations went under water. River Kumaradhara is flowing at danger level. In the coast, sea has become choppy and the officials have extended warning given to fishermen by 48 more hours.

The Bengaluru - Hassan - Mangaluru train was stranded at Hassan, causing problems for hundreds of passengers. Earth has caved in at several places in the ghat section on Yedakumeri-Karagarahalli sector of Sakleshpur taluk. The railway officials refunded money to passengers and arranged for transportation of passengers to places like Subrahmanya, Dharmasthala, Mangaluru and Udupi by hiring nine KSRTC buses. Backhoes have been working to repair the railway tracks at five places where mounds of earth have caved in but torrential rain has been blocking their efforts to restore railway traffic as soon as possible, it is gathered.