By Subham, Senior Environment Reporter
About the author: Subham is a senior environment reporter with The Bangalore Daily, specializing in monsoon dynamics and disaster response in South India.
Key Takeaways
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts across coastal, Malnad, and North Interior Karnataka, warning of continued heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. indiatoday.in
- District administrations in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Shivamogga have declared holidays for all schools and Anganwadi centres through Wednesday. hindustantimes.comthehansindia.com
- Landslide-prone zones in the Western Ghats report a 20% increase in incidents during the peak monsoon months, as outlined in the NDMA’s 2020 Disaster Risk Reduction report. ndma.gov.in
Why Schools Are Being Shut Down
Heavy, persistent monsoon rains have battered multiple districts over the past 48 hours, swelling rivers and destabilizing slopes in the Western Ghats. In Kodagu district alone, Madikeri recorded 75.67 mm of rainfall in a day, prompting the Harangi Reservoir to release 18,000 cusecs of water—submerging low-lying roads and endangering nearby villages. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Local administrations, prioritizing student safety, have issued circulars mandating a precautionary holiday for all government, aided, and private schools. “We must err on the side of caution,” said Deputy Commissioner Mullai Mugilan of Dakshina Kannada, “as numerous minor landslips have already been reported along state highways.” thehindustangazette.com
What Experts Are Saying
“The combination of prolonged rainfall, saturated soils, and unscientific hill cutting significantly lowers slope stability,”
explains Dr. R. Srinivasan, Director of the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre. “We advise schools and communities in taluks with a history of landslides to remain vigilant and follow evacuation protocols.”
According to a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Geohazards and Environment, regions receiving over 200 mm of monsoon rain in 24 hours see a 30% uptick in shallow landslides—underscoring the urgency of these closures.
Daily Digest
Stay updated with the latest developments on this ongoing situation:
- 09:00 AM – Udupi district issues extension of school holiday until June 25th.
- 12:00 PM – Harangi Reservoir discharge increases to 20,000 cusecs, per KSNDMC.
- 06:00 PM – IMD forecasts continued heavy showers in Malnad and North Interior Karnataka through June 26th.
Fact-Check
Rumor: A government school building in Madikeri collapsed, causing student casualties.
Reality: District administration confirms no structural failures or student injuries in any educational institution to date, following routine inspections by the Public Works Department.
What Happens Next?
- Community Preparedness: Authorities encourage families to sign up for the MeghaSandesha mobile alerts and review landslide evacuation routes.
- Ongoing Monitoring: KSNDMC and local disaster response teams are on standby for immediate deployment.
- Weekly Updates: This article will be refreshed with the latest rainfall data and administrative orders every Friday.
