Good rainfall in the Western Ghats has revived the Tunga and Bhadra rivers, bringing relief to farmers after prolonged dry conditions.
Chikkamagaluru
Moderate but continuous rainfall across the Malnad region since has brought relief to residents and farmers, replenishing rivers, streams and other water sources after weeks of below-normal rainfall. The fresh spell of rain has raised hopes for agriculture while improving water availability across parts of Chikkamagaluru district.
Good rainfall has been reported from the Western Ghats, including Kudremukh in Kalasa taluk and Kerekatte in Sringeri taluk. The flow in the Tunga and Bhadra rivers has increased significantly, with the Tunga recording a noticeable rise in water level for the first time this year. Water has also reached areas near the parking lot of the Sharadamba Temple in Sringeri, while riverbeds that had remained nearly dry in recent weeks are once again flowing.
The rise in the Bhadra river also led to an incident where a crane stationed on the riverbank for bridge construction work was submerged. The machine had been left in the riverbed when water levels were low, but the sudden increase in the river’s flow following the rainfall left it completely underwater.
Residents said the district had witnessed an unusually prolonged dry spell this year, with intense summer conditions persisting until the end of June. Rivers such as the Tunga and Bhadra, which normally carry substantial flows by this time of the year, had remained depleted due to inadequate rainfall. The latest showers have eased concerns among farmers, who expect the improved water availability to benefit agricultural activities.
Meanwhile, heavy winds accompanied by rain caused a large tree to fall across the national highway at the 10th hairpin bend of Charmadi Ghat in Mudigere taluk on Monday. The incident brought traffic to a complete halt for nearly two hours, resulting in long queues of buses, trucks, private vehicles and tourist traffic on the Chikkamagaluru–Mangaluru highway.
Police, local volunteers and residents rushed to the spot and jointly carried out a clearance operation despite the continuing rain. After cutting and removing the fallen tree, authorities restored the road, allowing traffic to resume in both directions.
