Intermittent rain disrupted normal life in Shivamogga, forcing commuters to open their umbrellas for cover, on August 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit: S.K. Dinesh
Many parts of the Malnad region in Karnataka have been receiving moderate to heavy rains over the past two days, throwing normal life out of gear.Rivers are in spate, and the inflow to reservoirs has been steadily rising. In several areas, the heavy downpour prompted authorities to declare a holiday for schools and anganwadi centres on August 1.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada, and Chikkamagaluru districts on August 1, warning that wind speeds could reach 40 to 60 km per hour, and heavy rainfall of up to 204.5 mm might be recorded in a few places.Rainfall above normalIn the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. on August 1, Shivamogga district recorded an average rainfall of 52 mm against the normal of 24 mm. Hassan recorded 20 mm against the normal of 8 mm, while Chikkamagaluru district received an average rainfall of 45 mm against the normal of 19 mm.The highest rainfall in Karnataka for the day was 294.5 mm, recorded at Begar in Sringeri taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. Agumbe in Tirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district received 279 mm. In Hassan, the highest rainfall of 180.5 mm was recorded at Hongadahalla in Sakleshpur taluk.Average rainfall in Chikkamagaluru district (in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on August 1)TalukRainfallSringeri197 mmKoppa130 mmKalasa99 mmN R Pura53 mmMudigere 49 mmChikkamagaluru 20 mmTarikere19 mmAjjampura 5 mmKadur3 mmPrimary schools and anganwadi centres in Sringeri taluk, Koppa taluk, and the Balehonnur hobli of N.R. Pura taluk remained closed for the day.Average rainfall in Shivamogga district (in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on August 1)TalukRainfallTirthahalli 98 mmHosanagara 80.6 mmSagara 52.7 mmSorab 48.9 mmShikaripur 26.4 mmShivamogga 12.1 mmBhadravati 9.6 mmWater level in reservoirsAll major rivers in the region are swollen, and inflows into reservoirs continue to increase. At the Linganamakki reservoir, built across the Sharavati river, the inflow on August 1 was 38,183 cusecs, bringing the gross storage to 51.32 TMC against its total capacity of 151.75 TMC.However, the current storage remains significantly lower compared to the same period in 2025, when it stood at 127.37 TMC. The current water level is 1,777.95 ft against the full reservoir level of 1,819.12 ft.The inflow into the Bhadra reservoir at Lakkavalli in Tarikere taluk reached 12,983 cusecs, pushing the water level to 2,129 ft against the full reservoir level of 2,158 ft. The gross storage stood at 40.41 TMC against a full capacity of 71.54 TMC.The inflow into the Hemavathi reservoir at Goruru in Hassan taluk was 11,686 cusecs, raising the water level to 2,909.06 ft against the full reservoir level of 2,922 ft. The gross storage was 25.98 TMC against its total capacity of 37.10 TMC.The Tunga dam at Gajanur near Shivamogga is almost full, compelling authorities to step up the discharge. The inflow on August 1 was 26,864 cusecs, with the water level reaching 588.19 metres against the full reservoir level of 588.24 metres. Against a gross capacity of 3.24 TMC, the current gross storage stands at 3.21 TMC. The outflow was maintained at 27,119 cusecs.As discharge increased following relentless rain in the catchment area, the Sharavati river has been overflowing. Published - August 01, 2026 05:18 pm IST
