Floods hit life in Karnataka, Kerala, over 2.4 lakh people affected in UP

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Aug 30, 2022: Several states in India are presently reeling under the impact of monsoon rains. In southern states of Kerala and Karnataka, incessant rain has led to water-logging and floods in several areas. Meanwhile, the floods in Uttar Pradesh have affected nearly 2.4 lakh people in over 1,000 villages of 22 districts.

 

The Indian Meteorological Department has forecasted isolated heavy rainfalls and thunderstorm/ lightning very likely over Telangana on August 30, while Coastal and North interior Karnataka will likely get heavy rains during the next three days.

The weather department has predicted heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, South interior Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe during next five days.

Torrential rains battered central Kerala on Tuesday, forcing authorities to sound alerts for residents hit by waterlogging. The educational institutions have been shut in the affected areas while residents have been asked to be on alert.

District collectors have declared holidays for schools in flood-hit taluks in many central districts of the state.

The authorities are also making preparations to evacuate residents in water-logged areas in case of emergencies.

The weather department has warned that the intense spell is likely to persist for the next two days.

A video doing rounds on social media showed waterlogging in many parts of Kochi city, some towns and villages in Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts, making life miserable for the people living there.

Water level rose in Kuttanad, the rice bowl of coastal Alappuzha district, as the rivers flowing through the region breached its territory at many places.

The weather department has sounded yellow alert for several Karnataka districts, including Bengaluru, Belagavi.

The incessant rains have brought life to a standstill in Bengaluru city. The Karnataka government declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Bengaluru on Tuesday in view of the heavy rainfall.

"Heavy rainfall caused waterlogging in several parts of Bengaluru and several trees were uprooted on Monday. A holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Bengaluru on Tuesday due to heavy rains," Bengaluru Urban DC, K Srinivas was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The Karnataka government has estimated rain-related losses since June to the tune of Rs 7,647.13 crore, and will be sending a proposal to the Centre seeking a relief of Rs 1,012.5 crore as per National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms.

According to Revenue Minister R Ashoka, a total of 96 people have lost their lives, while three are missing due to rain-related incidents since June; three people have died in the last 24 hours alone.

The situation is grim in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh. One person has died and nearly 2.4 lakh people have been affected in flood in over 22 districts of the state.

According to officials, of the 1,079 flood-affected villages, 153 have been cut off from the rest of Uttar Pradesh.

In view of the flood situation, 26 teams of NDRF and SDRF have been pressed into action. Food packets are also being distributed in the flooded areas.

The rising water level of the Ganga and Varuna rivers has submerged parts of Varanasi, including its famous ghats, forcing the cremation of bodies brought to the Harishchandra and Manikarnika ghats in nearby streets and on terraces.

Courtesy: India Today