The spell of heavy monsoon showers that has battered Karnataka for the past week intensified on Monday, prompting authorities to declare holidays for schools and colleges in multiple districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a red alert for several parts of the state, warning of “very heavy rainfall” accompanied by strong winds over the next 48 hours. (News18 Kannada)
According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), flooding, landslides, and power outages have already been reported in several coastal and interior districts, including Bengaluru, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, and Uttara Kannada. The IMD said that the rain-bearing system, fuelled by a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal and an active monsoon trough across central India, is expected to continue drenching the region through the week. (News18 Kannada)
The IMD has placed coastal districts of Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, and Udupi under a red alert, forecasting more than 204 mm of rainfall within 24 hours along with winds touching 60 km/hr. Officials warned of landslides, rising water levels in rivers and low-lying areas, uprooted trees, and damage to electricity poles. (News18 Kannada)
An orange alert has been issued for Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, and Dakshina Kannada, where rainfall between 115–204 mm is expected. Farmers have been advised to take precautions to safeguard crops as road connectivity and power supply may be severely affected. (News18 Kannada)
The state capital, Bengaluru, too has been bearing the brunt of the rain. On Monday, several low-lying areas, including Silk Board, Bommanahalli, Marathahalli, Koramangala, and Whitefield, were inundated. Traffic snarls, waterlogging, and power cuts brought parts of the city to a standstill. The IMD forecast for Bengaluru suggests cloudy skies with continuous showers, a maximum temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, and winds of up to 50 km/hr. (News18 Kannada)
With safety concerns mounting, District Collector Lakshmi Priya announced a two-day holiday for all educational institutions in ten taluks of Uttara Kannada district, including Karwar, Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Sirsi, Siddapur, Yellapur, Joida, and Dandeli. The closure applies to Anganwadis, primary and high schools, and pre-university colleges on August 18 and 19. Similarly, in Kodagu, which remains under an orange alert, authorities have suspended classes in all schools and pre-university colleges due to fears of flash floods and landslides. (News18 Kannada)
The state has been grappling with the aftermath of landslides for several days. The vital Mangaluru–Bengaluru highway was blocked after a massive landslide at Shiradi Ghat, disrupting travel between the coastal and interior regions. Officials have cautioned motorists against unnecessary travel in hilly terrain and appealed to residents to remain indoors where possible. (News18 Kannada)
Authorities have also warned that rainfall could intensify further as the cyclonic system over the Bay of Bengal tracks inland. Citizens in flood-prone areas have been asked to stay vigilant, avoid venturing into waterlogged stretches, and keep emergency supplies ready. (News18 Kannada)
