The southwest monsoon made an early entrance, arriving eight days ahead of schedule and bringing torrential rain to the Mysuru region and Malnad districts on Sunday. This sudden onset disrupted daily life, impacted tourism, and led to rising water levels in major reservoirs.
At Gajnur near Shivamogga, the Tunga dam reached its maximum level of 588.2 metres. To manage the overflow, authorities began releasing 5,500 cusecs of water into the Tunga River, with the outflow expected to double by nightfall due to persistent rain in the Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru catchments. Assistant Executive Engineer Tippa Naik confirmed the dam had reached its full storage of 3.2 tmcft.
Meanwhile, the Bhadra dam also saw a surge in inflow. Holding 137 ft of water—against its maximum of 186 ft—it continued to fill rapidly as heavy rainfall lashed its catchment zone. Executive Engineer N Ravi Kumar warned of potential further rise.
Rainfall Stats (24 hrs ending Sunday morning):
- Banakal (Chikkamagaluru): 197 mm
- Agumbe (Shivamogga): 184.5 mm
- Bagamandala (Kodagu): 168.2 mm
Floodwater also flowed into Bhadra and Linganamakki dams, alarming farmers who had just begun seasonal cultivation. The sudden downpour has thrown Malnad’s rural life into disarray.
In the tourism sector, rains dampened the weekend rush. Mysuru’s tourist spots were nearly empty, and visitors in Kodagu had to cancel plans and stay indoors due to fallen trees and blocked roads.
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