Heavy rain has disrupted life in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Several areas in Bengaluru were flooded on Monday as it rained overnight, prompting rescuers to evacuate residents on boats and tractors.
The Yelahanka Lake in Bengaluru overflowed after the rain, flooding Kendriya Vihar and other places close by, the Hindustan Times reported.
More than 1,600 residents were told to vacate their apartments in the area, according to the newspaper.
“Kendriya Vihar apartment is in a low-lying area, next to Yelahanka Lake,” Gaurav Gupta, the chief commissioner of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike told The Indian Express. “We are now planning to construct a new 30-40 foot storm water drain with cement and concrete walls so that the water doesn’t flow into low-lying areas.”
Several departments are engaged in pumping out water from flooded areas of Bengaluru.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai visited the Kendriya Vihar area on Tuesday to assess the flood situation.
An unidentified government official in Bengaluru told The New Indians Express that the city was not prepared to deal with a prolonged monsoon.
“While we boasted that the city can handle 44 mm rainfall in one hour, we cannot even manage rain that falls through the night,” the official said. “This is because the drains are full, lakes are full and water bodies in neighbouring Kolar and Chikkaballapur are also full.”
The additional chief secretary (urban development), Rakesh Singh, said everyone failed in managing the situation in the city this time, The New Indian Express reported.
In a tweet, the Karnataka chief minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called him to take stock of the situation in the state. “[The] prime minister expressed his deep concern over the crop loss and loss of lives,” he tweeted. “[The] prime minister [has] assured to provide all the necessary cooperation and assistance.”
Between November 1 and November 21, as many as 24 people have died due to rain and flood related incidents, 658 houses completely destroyed, 8,495 houses partially damaged and nearly 200 animals dead in the state, according to The News Minute.
Meanwhile in Andhra Pradesh, 18 villages have been vacated because of the rainfall, NDTV reported.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains for the Rayalaseema region, Nellore and Prakasam districts between November 26 and December 2 in view of a cyclonic circulation over Andaman Sea, reported The Times of India.
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to decided to distribute essential commodities including 25kgs of rice, 1 kg red gram dal, 1 litre oil and 1 kg onions and potatoes to all families adversely affected by rain, reported ANI.
Tamil Nadu is also reeling under the impact of heavy rain. Four houses collapsed in Salem district on Tuesday morning, ANI reported. Thirteen people were rescued and four are feared trapped under the rubble.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for the state for Tuesday and Wednesday, and an orange alert warning for the next two days, reported the Hindustan Times.
The weather agency has predicted isolated heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next five days, and isolated very heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, four houses in Salem district collapsed and four people are believed to be trapped in the debris, IANS reported, citing authorities, They said that 13 others have been rescued and shifted to a hospital for treatment.
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