90 die in April-July rain: Karnataka among 5 worst-affected states; over 3.9k houses damaged | Bengaluru News

BENGALURU: Karnataka has reported at least 90 deaths due to hydro-meteorological disasters between April and July this year, putting it among the top five worst-affected states in the country, according to figures compiled by the MHA based on inputs from state govts.While Karnataka had seen 89 deaths between April 1 and July 16, the death of Sushma, 29, in Kodagu on Saturday has taken the toll to 90. The Karnataka data shows that 3,901 dwellings were damaged and 18,000 hectares of agricultural land was affected due to heavy rain and associated disasters like floods, landslides and lightning.The death toll in the state is only behind Andhra Pradesh (258), Himachal Pradesh (171), Madhya Pradesh (148), and Bihar (101), with Maharashtra (69) and Kerala (71) following Karnataka closely.The impact may deepen with fresh bouts of rain battering parts of coastal and Malnad Karnataka over the past few days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts in multiple districts, including Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Shivamogga. Several parts of these districts have already reported landslips, waterlogging and crop damage this week.In coastal Karnataka, rain has disrupted daily life – schools in Udupi and Uttara Kannada were shut for at least two days, and transport was hit as low-lying roads were inundated. In Malnad districts, overflowing streams and saturated soil have raised fears of landslides, especially in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru. Revenue officials and NDRF teams, as per protocol, will be placed on standby.Senior officials say the persistent nature of the rain has slowed down post-disaster recovery and may add to the toll reflected in mid-July. “The recent spell could push both infrastructure damage and crop loss numbers up,” a source said.The figures compiled by the MHA show Karnataka’s crop loss of over 18,000 hectares is one of the highest in the southern region this year, though far behind Maharashtra, which reported damage to over 91,000 hectares of farmland. Crop loss data for several states, including those that top the death toll charts were not available immediately. Cattle loss in Karnataka stood at 807.

The Centre has said financial assistance under the State and National Disaster Response Funds (SDRF/NDRF) has already been released to affected states, including Karnataka, for undertaking relief measures. While the early onset and rapid advancement of the southwest monsoon this year brought some respite to water-stressed regions, it also led to a surge in flash floods and extreme weather episodes across India.