The Yadur-Kallol bridge-cum-barrage was submerged following heavy rains in neighbouring Belagavi district of Karnataka on July 22, 2026.
| Photo Credit: BADIGER PK
A holiday has been declared on July 23 for anganwadis, primary and high schools in Dandeli and Joida taluks of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka because of heavy rainfall.The respective tahsildars issued the order as a precautionary measure.Deficit monsoon in KarnatakaOverall, Karnataka seems to have received less rain than normal.The cumulative storage in the four reservoirs in Karnataka’s Cauvery basin – Harangi, Hemavati, KRS and Kabini – accounts for just 52% of their full storage capacity as of now. Of this, the storage at KRS is particularly poor as it accounts for a mere 35% of its full capacity. The inflows too are poor as KRS reported inflows of 775 cusecs on July 21.The Karnataka government has already declared that it would not release water for irrigation purposes and that whatever storage is there in the reservoirs has to be used only for drinking purposes.Last week, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the southwest monsoon had remained significantly below normal across Karnataka. During June, the State recorded a 42% rainfall deficit, while Kalyana Karnataka region recorded a 36% deficit.“The rainfall deficit has continued into July, with the State registering a further 34% deficit. Even Bengaluru, the capital city, has recorded nearly 34% deficit rainfall, reflecting the widespread nature of the prevailing conditions. Preliminary assessments indicate that nearly 80% of the sown crop has been lost in several affected areas owing to inadequate rainfall and persistently high temperatures,” he said.Simultaneously, the inadequate groundwater recharge and increased extraction have accelerated groundwater depletion across several districts, he said.Several districts have reported exceptionally high rainfall deficits, including Vijayanagara (61%), Mysuru (55%), Kodagu (51%), Chikkamagaluru (48%), Davangere (47%), Haveri (46%), Shivamogga (44%), Kalaburagi (43%), Dakshina Kannada (43%), and Bidar (40%), indicating that the crisis spans multiple agro-climatic regions of the State, he said. Published - July 23, 2026 12:03 pm IST
