Incessant rain over the last five days has thrown normal life out of gear in several parts of Hassan and Chikkamagaluru districts.
As more than 350 electricity poles have been uprooted, the power supply in almost all villages of Alur and Sakleshpur taluks in Hassan district has been disrupted. Public offices, hotels, banks and other commercial establishments did not function on Tuesday as there was no power supply. Canara Bank’s Anemahal branch, near Sakleshpur, could not function owing to lack of electricity. The staff members, however, managed to work on Monday with battery back-up. The power supply was restored only on Wednesday.
K. Subrahmanya, Superintending Engineer of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation, told The Hindu on Wednesday, “More than 350 electricity poles have fallen due to rain over the last three days. We have begun the restoration work. Priority is being given to restore power supply to hospitals and public offices. Restoration of power in villages will be taken up later.”
Hundreds of trees have been uprooted, causing inconvenience to vehicular movement in Mudigere, Koppa, Sringeri, N.R. Pura, Sakleshpur, Belur and Alur taluks, where the rain has continued to occur. Several trees in coffee estates have also fallen, damaging the standing crops.
According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, the highest rainfall of 254.5 mm in the State in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday was recorded at Bankal in Mudigere taluk.
The cumulative rainfall in Chikkamagaluru district since June 1 has touched 322 mm against the average normal rainfall of 205.08 mm for the period.
Similarly, in Hassan the cumulative rainfall was 208.8 mm against the average normal of 103.4 mm. On Tuesday, the highest rainfall of 151 mm in Hassan district was recorded at Anemahal, near Sakleshpur.
S.S. Madhukeshwar, Assistant Commissioner (Sakleshpur subdivision), said reports of damage to private properties were yet to come. “So far, one death has occurred in Sakleshpur due to heavy rain.
Victim’s family members will get a relief of Rs. 4 lakh. We are assessing the damage in other places,” he said.
Sharath (28), a native of Navilahalli, died after a tree fell on him during heavy rain near Hosakere in Sakleshpur taluk on Saturday night.
Public offices, banks and commercial establishments were closed due to lack of power
Barring one death, no other casualty reported
so far
