Karnataka sizzles; Kalaburagi, Ballari, Vijayapura record 45 degree Celsius

Bengaluru, Apr 22: There seems to be no respite from the scorching heat for Karnataka after Kalaburagi, Ballari and Vijayapura districts on Thursday recorded 45 degreess Celsius.

Of the 30 districts in the state, as many as 25 districts have recorded 40 degrees Celsius and above, according to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).

The data available at the Centre shows that Shahabad hobli in Chittapur taluk, Kalaburagi; Kasaba hobli in Siriguppa taluk, Ballari district and Babaleshwara hobli in Vijayapura district sizzled at 45 degrees Celsius. In these three districts, the average temperature was between 41 and 43 degrees Celsius. The KSNDMC report says that mercury touched 40 degrees Celsius in Kengeri near Bengaluru. On April 12, too, Kengeri touched 40 degrees Celsius. So far this summer season, no district has crossed the 45 degrees Celsius mark.

People of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts are better placed as temperature has not crossed 40 degrees Celsius. Only three districts–Bengaluru Urban, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi–have not been declared drought-affected this time. Pre-monsoon showers brought some respite for a few hours in parts of Kollegal and Chikkamagaluru. No widespread rain is expected in any part of the state at least till the second week of May, said KSNDMC Director Srinivas Reddy. The prevailing drought condition is making the government to consider cloud seeding.

In case the chief minister agrees for it, then cloud seeding (chemical inducement) could be taken up in July and August provided there are rain bearing clouds in 12 drought-affected districts of north interior Karnataka, said Reddy. The KSNDMC director said that there is severe water shortage in Kalaburagi and Vijayapura as river Bhima has gone dry. The government has sought 4 tmcft of water from Maharashtra, he added.

Midday meals

The government has so far released Rs 2,060 crore towards drought relief works. In the drought-hit districts, the government is providing midday meals to students of government primary schools even during summer holidays.

Sources said that midday meals were being served to students at nearly 27,000 schools from April 11 and will be provided till May 28. An additional amount of Rs 90 crore has been provided for this purpose. But not many students are turning up to schools to have free food. Only 35% of the total students are making use of the facility, sources added.