Health Woes Rise In Bengaluru Amid Rains; IMD Issues Red & Orange Alert For Karnataka

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) raised its weather warning to a red alert on Tuesday evening for seven districts in Karnataka, signaling the possibility of intense rainfall activity in the coastal and south interior regions. Bengaluru, although receiving consistent showers throughout the day, remains under an orange alert.

Escalating Health Risks Following Downpours

As rainfall continues to batter parts of the state, health professionals have flagged growing concerns over a likely spike in disease outbreaks. Hospitals across Karnataka are already reporting a notable increase in cases of respiratory infections and viral illnesses, as per a report on The Hindu.

Medical experts have urged the public to adopt precautionary measures, including consuming only boiled water and avoiding uncovered food from street vendors, to prevent waterborne diseases like typhoid, diarrhea, and cholera. Residents have also been advised to use mosquito repellents—particularly during evening hours—and to eliminate standing water near their homes to curtail mosquito breeding.

Avoiding contact with floodwater has also been strongly recommended, as it may be contaminated with harmful pathogens and chemicals.

Widespread Rainfall Forecast

According to the latest IMD bulletin, districts such as Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan are bracing for heavy to extremely heavy rains, which may be accompanied by hailstorms and gusty winds during the night, reported PTI. The weather agency has also issued a flash flood alert across these areas, cautioning that waterlogging and surface runoff are likely in regions with saturated soil or poor drainage systems.

In the state capital, Bengaluru, weather specialists indicated that conditions are gradually stabilising, though some thunderstorms were seen heading toward the northwest parts of the city. As of Tuesday afternoon, the city had received 0.4 mm of rainfall between 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM.

Looking ahead, IMD forecasts that conditions are becoming favourable for the monsoon to begin over Kerala within the next four to five days, potentially ushering in a more widespread onset across southern India. 

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