Much to the relief of the state government and district administration, rains in flood ravaged Kodagu and Malnad region in Karnataka have reduced in intensity, facilitating relief and rescue work.
As of 6.30pm on Sunday, average rainfall in Kodagu was down to 6mm, while the highest was 47mm in Galibidu, Madikeri Taluk.
“Rainfall has reduced considerably in Kodanad district as well as the whole of Malnad region,” Subha Avinash, Project Scientist, Hydrology, told TNM.
Sakleshpur, which was receiving the highest rainfall outside Kodagu has recorded average rainfall of 5mm, with a maximum rainfall of 18mm in one of the the recording stations.
“As on 6.30pm today, Malnad region of Chikmagalur also has recorded average rainfall of 11mm, maximum rainfall of 96mm in Sringeri,” she added.
Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday evening said, “The Indian Army, Navy and other state and central agencies have rescued more than 3,500 people so far."
The Quick Respons Team of the Civil Defence has been leading rescue and relief operations in the district.
Of the hundreds stranded across this flood-hit hilly district, about 270 km from Bengaluru, the 3,500 rescued till Sunday noon have been shifted to 30 relief camps and efforts are on to reach the others held up on hilltops.
The DGP confirmed to TNM that 90% of the rescue work has happened and less than 200 are still feared trapped. However, the number of deaths cannot be assessed as of now. The SP will soon start a missing persons' cell where such cases can be reported.
Located in the Western Ghats mountain ranges, the coffee-growing district of Kodagu is the worst-hit due to the south-west monsoon since June first week.
Incessant rains have been causing flooding and landslips across the region, damaging arterial roads.
Over 60 people have been stranded in Mukkodlu village of the district, but airlifting them has not been possible due to bad weather, Kumaraswamy said on Saturday.
About 300 people were rescued on Saturday, including more than 30 senior citizens and 50 children.
About 60 Dogra Regiment soldiers, 12 naval divers, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials, 525 fire service personnel and Home Guards are among those involved in rescue operations.
In total, over 1,000 rescuers from state and central agencies have been engaged in the rescue operations.
Hundreds of volunteers from state capital Bengaluru and across the state have been gathering relief material, including dry food, water, milk, clothing and medicines, and distributing them to those in temporary shelters in the district.
Meanwhile, with the rains reducing, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has resumed all operations within the state and to neighbouring Kerala, barring the Kasaragod route. Kerala has been witnessing the worst floods this century.
Rail routes from Bengaluru to Karwar, Mangaluru are still not functional. A special Kannur - Yeshwantpur passenger special was operational on Sunday while trains towards Bengaluru from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram ran till Coimbatore. Trains from Bengaluru towards Kochi/ Thiruvananthapuram were also operating till Coimbatore.