New Delhi: Heavy rains continued to lash parts of Karnataka taking the toll to four on Thursday. Of all the districts, Bengaluru is the worst affected with heavy rainfall throwing life out of gear. Earlier, two migrant labourers died while working at a pipeline project in Jnanabharathi police station limits in the state capital on Wednesday.
According to a report by news agency IANS, a 38-year-old person was electrocuted in Doddaballapur in Bengaluru Rural district and an elderly person was killed after the wall of an old school building collapsed in Holenarasipura taluk in Hassan district, following the rain.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for seven districts in the state - Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Chikkamagalur, Hassan, Kodagu and Shivamogga – and as per IMD prediction, these coastal districts are likely to receive heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. The administration has been asked to take necessary measures to avert any loss of life and property.
In the wake of the heavy rainfall, the district administrations in Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru and Shivamogga have declared a holiday in schools on Thursday.
A yellow alert has also been issued in Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur, Ramnagar, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Dharwad, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Ballary, Yadgir, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Koppal, Gadag and Haveri districts.
It is to be noted that Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai visited the rain-hit areas of Kamalanagar, Laggere, Shankar Mutt and Nagawara localities of Bengaluru city. The CM also reviewed the ongoing metro work and the storm water drains.
In the wake of the incessant rains, the authorities of Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) have urged the passengers to plan their travel accordingly as they might face water-logging and traffic congestion in a few areas towards the airport due to the downpour in Bengaluru.
The IMD in its latest weather forecast has said heavy to very heavy rainfall spell is likely over Kerala, and Coastal and South Interior Karnataka over next two days, and substantial reduction in rainfall intensity over the region from May 21.
Meanwhile, veteran BJP leader and former Union minister SM Krishna has written to CM Bommai warning him of the recent developments due to the incessant rains affecting the brand and image of Bengaluru city.
"The copious pre-Monsoon rains in the state especially in Bengaluru have affected the normal life of the people. The havoc caused by rains in Bengaluru, which is known as one of the most developing cities of the world, has caused concern," IANS quoted him as saying.