Cyclone Tauktae: Four dead, 318 displaced, 73 villages affected in heavy rains in Karnataka
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is closely monitoring the cyclone situation in coastal areas and is in contact with district in-charges and ministers to ensure rescue and relief operations in the affected districts.
FollowFour people died and 318 others were displaced after heavy rains were reported in coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka on Saturday due to Cyclone Tauktae. The cyclonic storm wreaked havoc, bringing with it high tidal waves and gusty winds, and affecting 73 villages, particularly in the sea-front areas in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts.
Over six districts including three coastal districts and three Malnad districts of Karnataka have received heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours due to the effect of Cyclone Tauktae.
"We are closely monitoring the cyclone situation in coastal areas, I am in contact with district in-charges and ministers and DCs of the affected districts to ensure rescue and relief operations," Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa tweeted.
"Due to cyclone Tauktae, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was observed over 6 districts, 3 coastal districts and 3 Malnad districts in the past 24 hours. The rainfall is accompanied by gale winds speed reach 70 to 80 km/hour, gusting at times upto 90 km/per along and off Karnataka Coast. So far, 4 people have lost their lives, 73 villages affected," said the KSDMA in an official statement issued today.
Eleven relief camps were opened in the state – five each in Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada districts, and one in Udupi. The four deaths were reported in Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts. The deaths occurred due to chance accidents – lightning in Shivamogga, electrical mishap in Udupi and a house collapse in Chikkamagaluru. In Uttara Kannada, a fisherman who was trying to tie his boat was hit by another boat leading to his death.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the cyclonic storm intensified into a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ and lay centred over the east Arabian Sea at 0230 hours on May 16.
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