Rain forecast: Minister asks officialsto be on high alert

Karnataka Minister U T Khader has directed government officials to be on high alert as heavy rain has been forecast in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district till July 11.

Addressing reporters here after holding a meeting with revenue and fire service officials, he said the district had witnessed heavy rains during last two days and the downpour was predicted to continue till July 11 as per the weather forecast.

With the district having received 1958.8 mm of rainfall till now during monsoon, the officials should be on high alert as there was chance of water level in rivers and rivulets crossing the danger mark and houses located in low lying areas getting submerged.

The minister said nearly 950 houses suffered damage in the last two days in the monsoon fury.

Officials had been instructed to identify the danger zone spots in Dakshina Kannada district.

He also said national disaster recovery framework team would be arriving in the district and draw up their own action plan.

The control room would be functioning 24x7 and officials had been told to respond to the people in distress, the minister said.

Khader, the district-in-charge minister, also distributed eight rescue boats, three scuba diving kits and tree cutter machine and tents worth Rs 23 lakh to the fire service department at the premises of Deputy Commissioner's office.