Kodagu district of Karnataka has been so badly hit by relatively heavy rain that the district administration has decided to declare a holiday for all schools in the Kodagu district as schools have been closed.
It is expected to rain again in the next couple of days and so, with IMD forecasting more rain in the next couple of days, residents should be cautious and avoid unnecessary travel, residents should be on guard.
The district has been inundated with torrents of heavy rainfall for a week with rivers and streams overflowing and waterlogging in low-lying areas and road connections have been compromised as roads are blocked and road congestion and waterlogging occurs, and heavy rains have been happening for a week.
Heavy rains have been reported and landslides and falling trees have been reported in the district and roads are now dangerous to travel on. Emergency teams are on the job to monitor the vulnerable areas and respond to any weather-related incidents.
Because of the safety of students and school staff, the Kodagu district administration ordered the closure of all government, aided and private schools.
Parents are advised not to send children outdoors unless absolutely necessary, and schools should resume only after weather conditions improve and authorities issue fresh directions.
The IMD has issued a weather alert for Kodagu and neighboring districts and warned of continuing heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The southwest monsoon is still active in Karnataka and heavy rains are hitting parts of the Western Ghats. Rainfall levels, reservoir conditions and river water levels are being closely monitored to avoid any untoward incidents.
It is also advising visitors to Kodagu to see weather reports ahead of time. It’s a district where coffee plantations, waterfalls and hills are found and thousands of people visit during the monsoon. But heavy rains can result in landslides, road blockages and flash floods in vulnerable areas.
Local disaster management teams, police and fire personnel are on standby for local residents. Control rooms have been set up and district officials are in constant contact with local law enforcement. Residents living near rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas should be watchful.
Farmers in Kodagu have kept a close eye on their plantations. Monsoon rains are generally good for coffee cultivation, but heavy rainfall can damage crops, result in soil erosion and disrupt harvest times.
People are advised to stay away from overflowing rivers and waterfalls, stay away from flooded roads and report emergencies immediately to local authorities. In some areas, power supply interruptions have also occurred due to fallen trees and damaged electricity lines, with restoration work ongoing.
Due to the current monsoon conditions, weather experts say active monsoon conditions could continue for the next few days as well; they recommend that people should follow the advice to stay with the IMD and district administration and follow the official advisories from the IMD and district administration.
With the current monsoon conditions, safety is of prime concern for Kodagu at present, and we are in a state of continuous monsoon rains.
