The southwest monsoon has intensified its activity over Karnataka, bringing continuous rainfall to many parts of the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast for continued downpours over the next five days, with an orange alert for several key districts, signaling the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall.
After a brief lull, the monsoon has become active again, especially in coastal and north interior Karnataka. This spell of rain has led to widespread waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and damage to property in various districts.
Forecast for the Coming Days (August 10 – August 14):
The IMD’s latest bulletin indicates that Karnataka can expect to see widespread rain for the remainder of the week.
- Sunday, August 10: Light to moderate rain is expected across the state.
- Monday and Tuesday, August 11-12: The intensity of the rain is likely to decrease slightly, with mostly light showers and cloudy conditions.
- Wednesday and Thursday, August 13-14: The rainfall is predicted to pick up again, with a high chance of moderate to heavy downpours.
Districts on Alert
The IMD has issued a specific warning for several districts, with an Orange Alert in place for regions where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely. These districts include:
- Coastal Karnataka: Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi.
- Malnad and Interior Karnataka: Shivamogga, Haveri, and Chikkamagaluru.
A Yellow Alert has also been issued for a large number of districts in North and South Interior Karnataka, including:
- North Karnataka: Bagalkot, Belagavi, Bidar, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur, Vijayapura, and Yadgir.
- South Karnataka: Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ballari, Chikkaballapura, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Hassan, Kodagu, Kolar, Mandya, Mysuru, Ramanagara, and Tumakuru.
These areas can expect isolated heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds, which could lead to localized flooding and traffic congestion.
Impact and Public Advisory
The continuous rain has already caused significant disruption. In North Karnataka, particularly in Vijayapura and Belagavi, several bridges have been submerged, and houses have been damaged, forcing officials to divert traffic.
Residents across the state are advised to:
- Stay indoors during intense spells of rain.
- Avoid non-essential travel, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
- Exercise caution while commuting due to reduced visibility and waterlogged roads.
- Monitor official weather updates from the IMD and local authorities.
The state government and disaster management teams are on high alert, monitoring reservoir water levels and preparing for potential flood situations in the affected districts. Farmers are also advised to take necessary precautions to protect their crops from water damage.
