Rain claims 39 lives in Karnataka

Torrential rains continued to lash several districts of Karnataka, leaving six more persons dead to take the toll in rain-related incidents in the state to 39.

There was no let up in the rain fury in the districts of Kodagu, the origin of river Cauvery, Belgaum, Bijapur, Raichur, Gulbarga, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, where normal life has been thrown out of gear.

Three persons were washed away in flash floods triggered by incessant rains in Doni river in Belgaum district on Saturday.

Two persons were killed in Nabapura village when a house collapsed under the impact of pounding rains and another was crushed to death in a wall collapse in Jevalagala village in Belgaum district on Saturday night, reports reaching said.

In Kodagu, vehicular movement on Bagamandala road has been suspended as water was overflowing on a bridge.

Several villages have been marooned and the authorities have been evacauting people to safer places, besides providing them with food, reports said.

Some rivers in Udupi district have crossed the danger mark.

Traffic on the Lingasugur road in Raichur district has come to a halt as Maski dam was overflowing.

The districts of Bijapur and Bagalkot have accounted for 14 deaths and seven in Raichur.

Rain-related deaths have been reported in the last few days from Bangalore, Madikeri, Bellary, Shimoga, Gulbarga, Karwar and Koppal.

As rains continued unabated, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has convened a high level meeting on Monday to take stock of the situation.

The meeting will be attended by Chief Secretary P B Mahishi, Heads of Revenue and Agriculture Department, besides Development Commissioner, official sources told PTI.

Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy had telephonic conversations with Deputy Commissioners of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Belgaum, Bellary, Raichur, Bijapur, Mysore and Kodagu, and sought information on the havoc caused by rains.

Kumaraswamy directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure immediate payment of compensation to the families of those killed in rain-related incidents.

Ministers in-charge of affected districts have also been asked to tour the rain-ravaged areas to supervise relief works, sources said.

Kumaraswamy is contemplating visiting the worst-hit districts, but a decision would be made after reviewing the situation at Monday's meeting, the sources said.