Mangaluru: Torrential rains in the coastal and southwestern districts of Karnataka crippled normal life, as the southwest monsoon intensified, causing flood-like situation in towns and villages across the region, said an official on Thursday.
“Schools and colleges have been shut on Thursday and Friday in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Udupi districts, as heavy rains continued unabated, throwing normal life out of gear,” a Revenue official told reporters here.
Very heavy rainfall measuring upto 19 cm was received in certain parts of Dakshina Kannada district, according to the data from Bengaluru centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Meanwhile, Revenue Minister R.V. Deshpande told reporters here that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had released additional funds to compensate the rain-affected people in Dakshina Kannada district.
Incessant rains also disrupted vehicular traffic across the region, as landslides in the ghat section and state highways between Hassan and Mangaluru blocked roads with debris and fallen trees.
“The road continues to pose danger and is out of access for vehicles to pass through the ghat section,” a Public Works Department official told reporters at Sakleshpur in Hassan district.
The Forests Department has launched an operation to clear the fallen trees across the ghat road and those precariously positioned off it.
Officials of the National Highways Authority of India and Revenue Department visited the spot and inspected the repair work earlier in the day.
Landslides occurred on 11 road bends of the ghat since Tuesday.
Police diverted vehicles entering the ghat section at Ujire in Dakshina Kannada. About 50 trucks were stranded in the ghat section due to landslides and road blocks since Wednesday.
Karwar to Yeshwanthpur Express train was partially cancelled on its route due to the landslides on Thursday, a statement from the South Western Railway said.
Gomteshwara Express train from Bengaluru’s Yeshwanthpur to Mangaluru was also cancelled.
The heavy monsoon is likely to continue over the next few days in the coastal, south and north districts, the IMD said.
IANS