Mangaluru, 1 Aug

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV on Saturday directed all district and taluk-level officials to remain on high alert in view of the forecast of heavy showers in the coming days and ensure round-the-clock preparedness to tackle weather-related emergencies. The IMD has warned of flash floods in low-lying areas until 2 August.

Chairing an online review meeting with officials, Darshan instructed all taluk administrations to keep their control rooms operational 24x7. He said incidents of landslides and soil erosion had been reported across the district and directed officials to closely monitor all identified vulnerable locations.

As a precautionary measure, residents living in houses located in landslide-prone areas should be shifted to safer places, if required, he said.

In Belthangady taluk, several roads and houses had already been inundated.

Meanwhile, in Kodagu district, Madikeri recorded 86.08mm of rainfall while Somwarpet received 93.9mm in the 24 hours ending 8 am on Saturday. The district recorded an average rainfall of 56.79 mm during the same period.