Smiles back as heavy rains pound Karnataka

Hassan: People of the state who were anxious over the rains playing truant this season, finally got a reprieve after the Western Ghats where prominent rivers take birth, received copious rainfall while reservoirs saw a steady increase in  inflow.  

Rainfall recordings at Bhagamandala in Madikeri district have sprung a surprise for officials of India Meteorological Department (IMD) as the region which usually records 8-9 cm rain saw  20 cm rain on Wednesday.  Heavy rain in Bhagamandala and other parts of Madikeri have increased inflow into the KRS reservoir across river Cauvery in Mandya and the inflow was recorded at 2,121 cusecs. Another prominent reservoir in Cauvery basin,  Hemavathy reservoir in Hassan across river Hemavathy had 8.46 tmc feet with an inflow of 5,441 cusecs of water, said an official adding that there are heavy rains in the catchment areas of the reservoir. 

With the rains lashing the region, rivers such as Tunga and Bhadra which originate in Chikkamagaluru have been flowing to capacity. An official said, about 12,000 cusecs inflow has been recorded in Tunga River, while Lakkavali reservoir across river Bhadra had water storage of 20 tmc feet.            

Like, Bhagamandala, most parts of Western Ghats  have recorded copious rains particularly Agumbe, considered the Cherapunji of the state which has recorded rain of 153 mm. Kotigehara has recorded 145.6 mm rains Kalasa rain of 104.2 mm, Kammaradi 120mm, Napoklu records 183.6 mm, Linganamakki-124mm, Siddapura-118 mm, Kolluru-114.8 mm and Gerusoppa in Uttara Kannada district-122.4 mm, disclosed director of IMD,  Ramesh Babu.