Heavy rain on Monday night left many localities inundated in Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts. Rivers were in spate, leaving people in low-lying areas worried. Transportation was hit in many places as bridges were submerged and many villages were cut off from the rest of the world.

Following heavy rain in Sringeri, the Sharada Peetha premises were flooded and the Kappe Shankara Temple there was submerged, leaving visitors in the lurch. Tunga river was in spate and water entered many residential areas in town. Sringeri taluk received an average of 137 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Hebbale bridge on the Kalasa-Horanadu Road was submerged in Bhadra water, and this threw traffic off course. There was no connectivity between the two temple towns for a couple of hours even as roads connecting many villages in Mudigere taluk were also flooded. Power supply was disrupted in many localities as MESCOM officials struggled to restore it in the downpour. A few people who went to see the Kallathagiri falls in Tarikere taluk were stuck.

Holiday declared

The Chikkamagaluru district administration declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the rain-hit areas of Chikkamagaluru, Mudigere, Sringeri, Koppa and N.R. Pura taluks on Tuesday. The district received an average of 70 mm of rain on Monday, as compared to the normal rainfall of 15 mm. The highest quantum of rain — 206.5 mm — was recorded at Urubage in Mudigere taluk.

As rainfall in the catchment area was heavy, the inflow to Hemavati reservoir was also high on Monday and Tuesday. The river was seen flowing in spate at Sakleshpur and other parts. The inflow was measured at the rate of 17,000 cusecs — an uncommon quantum in recent days. Many parts of Sakleshpur town were inundated.

Similarly, parts of Belur, Alur and Hassan also received heavy rain on Tuesday. Roads in Hassan were flooded and threw vehicular movement out of gear. The Hassan district administration declared a holiday for schools in Sakleshpur and rain-hit parts of Belur taluk on Tuesday. Wednesday also will be a holiday in Hassan, Alur, Sakaleshpur, Belur and Arakalgud taluks.

The average rainfall in Hassan on Tuesday was 38 mm, as against the normal rainfall of 6 mm. The highest quantum of rain — 201 mm — was recorded at Valalahalli in Sakleshpur taluk.