Heavy rainfall across Karnataka claims 3 lives after 130 mm (5.1 inches) overnight, India
Severe flooding hit northern Karnataka overnight on Saturday, October 5, 2024, as heavy rains, triggered by cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal, claimed three lives, injured two, and damaged 150 houses. The torrential downpour, with over 130 mm (5.1 inches) of rainfall, caused widespread destruction across multiple districts, including Ballari and Bengaluru.
Car being washed away by flood waters in Karnataka's Hebri region. Image credit: Naveen Reddy
- Heavy rains of around 130 mm (5.1 inches) led to widespread flooding across several districts in northern Karnataka, including Ballari and Bengaluru, causing significant damage to homes, crops, and infrastructure.
- The intense rainfall was attributed to cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal, which resulted in deadly lightning strikes, house collapses, and flash floods.
- The flooding claimed three lives, left two injured, and washed away 9 000 ha (22 240 acres) of crops, including paddy, banana, and chilli, impacting local agriculture and livelihoods.
- Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more heavy rainfall and issued orange alerts for several regions in the coming days.
Heavy rains lashed northern Karnataka on Saturday night, resulting in severe flooding across the region. The downpour, attributed to cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal, saw around 130 mm (5.1 inches) of rain fall overnight, claiming three lives, injuring two, and damaging 150 houses.
In Vijayanagara district, two people were killed by lightning strikes on Sunday, October 6, while in Davanagere district, a man died when his house collapsed. His son and daughter-in-law were also injured in the incident and were transported to the hospital.
The Ballari district and surrounding areas experienced intense flooding due to the heavy rainfall. Raichur, Koppal, Yadgir, and Kalaburagi districts also reported significant rainfall. In the Sandur mining area, around 55 trucks were stranded in the floodwaters. Local residents rescued 25 drivers from their vehicles. Authorities reported that 9 000 ha (22 240 acres) of paddy, banana, and chilli crops were destroyed by the floods.
Floodwaters also submerged roads in Naragund and Gadag districts after two hours of torrential rain on Saturday night. Homes in the area were flooded as rainwater mixed with sewage water.
Bengaluru was similarly affected by the heavy rains from Saturday night into Sunday morning. Several neighbourhoods were inundated, and around 15 trees were uprooted. Significant damage was reported, particularly in the southern, western, and Yelahanka zones of the city.
In Yelahanka, a 15.2 m (50 feet) high compound wall near Yelahanka Lake collapsed due to the intense rainfall. The collapse caused knee-deep flooding at the Kendriya Vihar Apartment Complex, submerging several vehicles and leading to power outages for residents.
Authorities responded quickly, with personnel from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), and the Fire Department deployed to manage the situation. Emergency rations were distributed to affected residents.
In the Madhuvana and Vijaynagar areas, at least 10 houses were flooded after a sewage line overflowed. The Palike Bazaar area saw severe inundation. In the Binnypet area, a 2.1 m (7 feet) high compound wall collapsed onto several two-wheelers, also bringing down an electric pole, which caused damage to a nearby house.
Mudradi in Udupi district experienced flash floods after a cloudburst over Kabbinale Betta. The sudden flooding swept away several vehicles and submerged acres of paddy, rubber, areca, and coconut plantations.
More than 25 electric poles were damaged, leading to widespread power outages in the region. Tourists visiting nearby waterfalls scrambled to safety when water levels rose suddenly. Fire and emergency services were dispatched to conduct rescue operations.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more widespread rain for Karnataka and surrounding regions.
Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over Kerala and Mahe from October 7 – 12, with Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal likely to receive heavy rain from October 7 – 11. South Interior Karnataka is expected to experience similar conditions on October 7 – 8, and the IMD has issued an orange alert for several regions from October 8 – 11.
References:
1 Torrential Rains Kill Three, Submerge Over 150 Homes in Karnataka; Heavy Falls to Lash South India This Week – The Weather Channel – October 6, 2024
2 Karnataka: Rain kills three, damages 150 houses in North Karnataka – TNIE – October 7, 2024
3 Heavy Rain Paralyzes Bengaluru, Floods homes and Uprooted trees – NewsKarnataka – October 7, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules.