IMD downgrades rainfall alert in south interior Karnataka from ‘very heavy’ to ‘heavy’
Bengaluru, May 21 (PTI): After days of relentless rain, Bengaluru experienced mostly overcast skies on Wednesday. In a related development, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) downgraded its forecast for Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, and Dakshina Kannada from "very heavy" to "heavy" rainfall.
These three southern interior Karnataka districts were among the seven that were issued a red alert on May 20. A red alert indicates extremely heavy rainfall of over 204.5 mm within 24 hours
"Now, the red alert remains only for Uttara Kannada. Although a couple of places may still see very heavy rainfall, the alert is more about the impact. Due to continuous heavy rainfall, the soil is saturated and may lead to landslides," said Latha Sridhar, D-category scientist at the IMD Bengaluru Centre.
Although both Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural recorded no rain, a yellow warning remains in place for the IT hub, primarily because the city is still reeling from the impact of continuous rain over the past few days.
According to the IMD, a yellow alert indicates heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.
“Bengaluru may witness light rain in a few places at night. But for the next two to three days, we expect only cloudy skies,” Sridhar added.
She said the department would decide tomorrow on issuing alerts to various regions of Karnataka.
“The two low-pressure systems over the Arabian Sea, which had caused heavy rainfall along the north Karnataka and Goa coasts, are moving northwards. Tomorrow, we will have a clearer picture,” said Sridhar.
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Rahul calls Bittu 'traitor', Union minister retorts with 'desh ke dushman' jibe
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday exchanged barbs with former party colleague and union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu in Parliament premises.
In videos released by the Congress, Gandhi was heard calling Bittu "a traitor" and the minister retorting with "desh ke dushman" (enemy of the nation) jibe.
The incident took place right outside Parliament's Makar Dwar, the main entrance which MPs take to enter the new Parliament building, where Gandhi was standing in solidarity with suspended Congress MPs, mostly from Punjab.
As soon as he was about to speak, Bittu passed by, and remarked, "they (suspended Congress MPs are sitting here as if they have won a war".
Gandhi hit back, "The thing is, here is a traitor walking right by. Take a look at the face. How he looks."
Gandhi then extended his hand towards Bittu for a handshake, and said, "Hello brother, my traitor friend".
"Don't worry, you will come back (to the Congress)", Gandhi added addressing the Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing.
Bittu, however, declined to shake hands with Gandhi and, while pointing to him, said, "desh ke dushman."
The union minister was seen in the videos springing past the Makar Dwar stairs, repeating his "desh ke dushman" charge while pointing at the Congress leaders and suspended MPs, who continued to jeer at him.
They were also heard saying, "surrender, surrender".
Bittu, the grandson of late Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, was a former MP of the Congress from Ludhiana and Anandpur Sahib before he switched sides to the BJP ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
