The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Monsoon arrives in Karnataka

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Sunday, Jun 01, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Monsoon arrives in Karnataka

Staff Reporter

Coastal Karnataka, ghat areas to get heavy rain in 2 days
Traffic snarls, water logging and tree falls in Bangalore

BANGALORE: Accompanied by thunderclaps and strong winds, the south-west monsoon arrived in Karnataka on Saturday, just as the Meteorological Centre in Bangalore had predicted, three days ahead of its usual schedule.

Having set in over coastal and south interior Karnataka, the monsoon will spread to north interior Karnataka in three days. The India Meteorological Department in Delhi on Saturday declared the arrival of the monsoon in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu and will officially declare the monsoon in Karnataka on Sunday, said the Director of the centre in Bangalore, A. Muthuchami.

For the next four months most parts of the State, including Bangalore, can expect rain at least five days a week and a welcome break from rising temperatures, which are expected to dip to 28 degrees, said Dr. Muthuchami. The State would receive normal rainfall (82 cm) this monsoon in the next four months, he added.

During the next two days, rain or thundershowers are likely to occur in almost all areas of coastal Karnataka, south interior Karnataka and isolated places in north interior Karnataka, according to the centre here. It has also warned of heavy rainfall in the coastal Karnataka and ghat regions during this period. It has indicated to fishermen that strong offshore winds with speeds touching 45-55 km an hour are likely to hit the coast during this period. During the last 24 hours, rainfall occurred at many places in coastal Karnataka, south interior Karnataka and isolated places in north interior Karnataka. Mulki in Dakshina Kannada district received 8 cm of rain.

However, despite the rains, many places recorded high temperatures with Raichur recording the highest with 40.2 degree Celsius on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the monsoon entered with a characteristic bang in Bangalore. It rained continuously in the evening in many parts of the city. The lack of preparation by the city administration was reflected in the fact that almost all arterial roads were flooded, throwing the weekend traffic out of gear. Many residential localities reported water logging and rain water entering the houses.

Due to an overflowing storm water drain that cuts across the Kengal Hanumantaiah Double Road, traffic movement was almost blocked on this road. Water logging affected vehicular movement near the Dell office on Koramangala Inner Ring Road as well.

Gusty winds that preceded the rains uprooted many trees. A huge tree was uprooted on Miller’s Road near CSI hospital blocking traffic for more than two hours. As a tree branch came down near Carlton House on Palace Road, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic-Central) K. Ishwar Prasad was seen joining hands with his juniors to clear the road as no personnel from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were present.

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