Life in Karnataka came to a standstill as heavy and sustained rain continued to batter some of the districts, leading the authorities to close schools and colleges on Tuesday as a precautionary step. The move has left classrooms deserted in seven districts, with officials giving priority to children’s safety over studies.
School and college administrations in Dharwad, Chikkamagaluru, Belagavi, Karwar, Hassan, Bidar and Madikeri have announced a holiday following days of relentless rain. Children are to be kept at home by parents, and teachers are directed to compensate for lost classes on the next holidays.
The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre (KSNDMC) issued an alert indicating that the torrential rains and strong winds are forecasted to continue through August 20, particularly along the coastal regions and hilly areas. The Meteorological Department issued a red alert Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga districts, and orange alerts for Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Hassan, and Kodagu districts.
Devastating rainfall hits Karnataka
The effect of the rain has already been devastating. In Hassan’s Shiradi Ghat, roads have been plugged by landslides, mud, and boulders rolling down on highways. In Donigal, a retaining wall on National Highway-75 has collapsed, causing concern for travelers. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported yet.
Water bodies also swell. The total water outflow from Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam at Mandya and Kabini reservoir at Mysuru has been raised to 95,000 cusecs. In Harangi reservoir of Kodagu, inflow has increased, resulting in the outflow of 8,000 cusecs. Incidentally, the Tungabhadra river has gone beyond the danger level in sections of Sringeri taluk.
Deputy Commissioners of districts have made timely instructions:
In Dharwad, DC Divya Prabhu directed schools, PU colleges and Anganwadis to be closed, emphasizing safety in the wake of ongoing rain.
In Madikeri, DC Venkat Raja declared holidays in Kodagu district following new threats of heavy rains.
In Chikkamagaluru, DC Meena Nagaraj closed schools and Anganwadis in several taluks like Mudigere, Kalasa, Sringeri, and Koppa.
In Belagavi, DC Mohammad Roshan issued a holiday for seven taluks.
In Karwar, schools and PU colleges have been ordered to be shut down by DC Laxmi Priya.
In Hassan, three taluks have been announced to be closed by DC Lathakumari.
Aurad taluk schools have been provided with a break too, in Bidar.
As rains intensify, families are preparing for more interruptions, particularly in water-logged localities. Passengers have been advised against traveling through ghat sections, and officials are in high alert to deal with emergencies.
With other neighbouring states also suffering under the same, Karnataka’s monsoon wrath is a reminder of nature’s power molding lives, schedules, and even school days of children.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
