Bhatkal: Uttara Kannada district has been grappling with heavy rains for the past week, leading to three casualties, the death of 14 cattle, and damage to 289 houses. Deputy Commissioner Prabhuling Kavalikatti provided this information during a media briefing in Karwar on Tuesday.

As the rain intensifies each day, rivers and canals have swelled, causing severe problems for residents living near riverbanks and sea shores. Floods have resulted in the damage and collapse of numerous houses, as well as destruction of crops in agricultural lands. Many footbridges, roads, and bridges have also been adversely affected, disrupting transportation and leaving several villages cut off.

The torrential rain has further damaged electric poles, causing power outages in various areas. Landslides have impacted the traffic system on Kumta-Sirsi highway, Kumta-Siddapur highway, and Ramnagar-Londa highway connecting to Goa.

To ensure the safety of students, schools across all 12 taluks of the district remained closed on Monday and Tuesday. While there was a reduction in rain intensity in coastal areas on Tuesday evening, heavy rainfall persisted in the upper regions of the ghats. Consequently, schools in Karwar, Joida, Yellapur, and Mundgod were declared closed on Wednesday as well. Tehsildars in other taluks were instructed to make appropriate decisions based on the rain situation.

Notably, Bhatkal and Honnavar experienced heavy rains again late at night, leading to the continuation of school holidays in these taluks on Wednesday.

In response to potential flooding, the district administration is releasing a controlled amount of water from the reservoirs to safeguard low-lying areas. As a precautionary measure, 11 Care Centers have been set up in Kumta and Honnavar, accommodating 360 people. Senior officers are present at the relief camp to ensure public welfare.

In Honnavar and Kumta, low-lying areas along the Agnashini and Sharavati rivers have experienced rising water levels, submerging surrounding regions. Some families have been relocated to safer areas.

Though the landslide at Devi Mane Ghat connecting Sirsi-Kumta has been cleared, heavy vehicles have been advised to take the Arbail Ghat route on Yellapur-Ankola due to road incompleteness.

The Anshighat area is under constant monitoring, as landslides continue to pose a risk. Precautionary measures have been implemented, but if such occurrences persist, night traffic restrictions similar to previous measures may be considered