Karnataka received 279% more than normal rainfall between August 3 and 10, the highest recorded in the state in 118 years, an analysis of the heavy rainfall reported.
The rainfall led to 'unprecedented' floods and landslides in 21 of the 30 districts in the state. It took the lives of 61 people while 15 are still missing.
The heavy rainfall led to a high inflow of up to 6 lakh cusecs of water into the Krishna river, leading to floods in the northern Karnataka districts of Belagavi, Bagalkot, Raichur and Yadgir. "The inflow is one of the highest recorded in the state," confirmed an official from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). The disaster body is preparing a detailed report on the rainfall in the state this month. The statistics related to the rain was confirmed by KSNDMC.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the floods in Karnataka and appealed for funds to be released immediately from the Central government. The damage due to the floods has been estimated at Rs. 40,000 crores.
1,220 relief camps were opened to shelter more than 4 lakh people displaced by the disaster. The state government has sanctioned Rs 10,000/- each per family for immediate relief, Rs 1 lakh for house repair and Rs 5 lakh for constructing a new house. The state government has proposed relocating people in around 200 affected villages.
4.7 lakh hectares of crops were reported to be affected due to the rains while 18,000 km of roads, 650 bridges and 54,000 electric poles were severely damaged. 58,620 houses were also partially or fully damaged.
Heavy rains caused floods and landslides in the three coastal districts - Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada - and in four Malnad districts - Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga and Hassan. In Kodagu, two major landslides struck a year after landslides took the lives of 18 people in August 2018. A team of scientists from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) are currently studying the affected areas in the hilly district.