Heavy Rain Alert Issued for Coastal Karnataka Schools Closed in Dakshina Kannada

Heavy rainfall is expected to continue across parts of Karnataka over the next two days, prompting weather authorities to issue fresh warnings for coastal and hilly regions. The India Meteorological Department has forecast intense rain on July 18 and 19, raising concerns over possible landslides, strong winds and localized flooding in vulnerable areas.

As a precautionary measure, the district administration in Dakshina Kannada has declared a holiday for anganwadis, primary schools, high schools and pre university colleges after an Orange Alert was issued for the district. Officials said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of students and staff as adverse weather conditions are likely to persist.

The heaviest rainfall is expected in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada. Along with continuous showers, wind speeds of around 30 to 50 kilometres per hour are likely in several places. The weather department has also warned that saturated soil in the Western Ghats could increase the risk of landslides, particularly in hilly and forested areas.

Residents living near slopes, riverbanks and low lying areas have been advised to remain cautious and closely follow updates issued by local authorities. Travelers passing through ghat roads are also being urged to monitor weather conditions before beginning their journeys.

The latest forecast marks a shift from earlier expectations that widespread rainfall across Karnataka would remain limited. While many interior regions are still expected to receive only light to moderate showers, rainfall activity has intensified significantly along the coast.

The Malnad region is also likely to witness heavy rainfall in isolated places. Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru are among the districts expected to receive intense showers, while parts of Belagavi may also experience heavy rain during the forecast period.

Several districts in North Interior Karnataka are likely to experience moderate rainfall accompanied by gusty winds. Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Bagalkot, Koppal and Vijayapura could see wind speeds ranging between 40 and 50 kilometres per hour. Residents have been advised to secure loose outdoor objects and exercise caution while travelling during strong winds.

In South Interior Karnataka, including Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Mysuru, Mandya, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Kodagu, moderate rainfall is expected. Although rainfall intensity is likely to be lower than in the coastal belt, occasional strong winds could affect daily activities in some locations.

Authorities have urged fishermen to remain alert as rough weather conditions may continue along the Karnataka coast over the next 24 to 48 hours. People living near streams and rivers have also been advised to stay vigilant, especially if rainfall becomes heavier than forecast.

Disaster management teams and local administrations remain on standby to respond quickly if weather conditions worsen. Citizens have been encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel to landslide prone regions and to rely only on official weather updates while planning outdoor activities. With monsoon activity expected to stay active, officials continue to emphasize preparedness and public safety across the affected districts.