58 dead, 80,000 hectares crop damage in K'taka so far: Min. Krishna Byre Gowda
Above normal monsoon rains
Bengaluru, Aug 12: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Monday said that the state has recorded 58 deaths and crop damage in 80,000 hectares, due to "above normal" rains so far in the current monsoon season so far.
More rains are anticipated in several parts of the state in the days ahead, and officials have been instructed to take precautionary measures, he said.
"In the northern interior region, the average rainfall has been 260 mm, but this year it has received 322 mm, which is 24 per cent higher than normal. The Malnad region typically receives 1,127 mm of rainfall, but this year it has received 1,361 mm, 21 per cent higher than normal.
The coastal region typically receives 2,299 mm of rainfall, but this year it has received 2,947 mm, which is 28 per cent higher. The state has received an average of 553 mm of rainfall (normally), but this year it has received 699 mm, which is 26 per cent higher. Notably, no district has received less rainfall than normal this year," Gowda said.
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Speaking to reporters here, he said that last month there was a rainfall deficit in the dryland regions and districts like Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Yadgir, Koppal, Vijayapura and Raichur had received less rainfall than usual. However, good rainfall has been recorded in these areas over the last 10 days.
"Moreover, the monsoon is expected to intensify again from August 16. All districts are reporting good monsoon (sowing) activity. This year, the rainfall is expected to be above average, and we anticipate a good agricultural season," he added.
Noting that the monsoon will continue for another one-and-a-half months, and more rain is expected in the coming days, especially in the regions from Bengaluru to Central Karnataka and the Malnad area, the minister said heavy rainfall is likely along the Karnataka-Maharashtra border and the Krishna and Cauvery river basins.
"Therefore, precautionary measures have been instructed to the district collectors to prevent unnecessary flood situations," he said.
During heavy rains, rivers tend to overflow, and if water is released from dams simultaneously, it could lead to flooding, causing distress to people, he said. Instructions have been given to regulate the release of water from reservoirs before they reach full capacity, to control floods, he added.
The deputy commissioners of districts have also been instructed to identify and evacuate people from dilapidated schools and houses at risk of landslides, and move them to safety centers, the minister added.
Noting that the number of casualties has been controlled this year, Gowda said 67 people had lost their lives by this time in 2019, and 75 people had died during the monsoon season in 2022. This year, 58 people have lost their lives, he said, adding that "the government's precautionary measures have reduced the number of deaths."
"Nevertheless, every life is valuable, and it is the government's duty to protect every individual. Deputy commissioners of districts have been instructed to take further preparatory measures to prevent such casualties," he said.
Heavy rainfall is expected in the Malnad and coastal regions, as well as in the Cauvery and Krishna reservoir basins after August 15, he further said, and added that a crucial meeting on this matter will be held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday.
Stating that due to the rains, crops on 80,000 hectare of land across the state have been damaged, Gowda assured that compensation will be provided to all affected farmers within a week.
"While agricultural crops on 78,679 hectares have been damaged statewide, horticultural crops on 2,294 hectares have been affected. We will have accurate information within a week regarding which crops have been damaged.
Subsequently, the process of compensating farmers will begin," he said.
The compensation will be provided from the current resources available with the state government, he said. With the possibility of another one-and-a-half months of rain, there is a chance of further crop damage in the coming days. "Therefore, after the entire monsoon period concludes, a request for additional relief will be submitted to the central government."
In the current rainy season, 1,126 houses have completely collapsed, while 75 unauthorised houses have also collapsed, Gowda said. Additionally, 1,176 houses have suffered severe damage, and 2,338 houses have been partially damaged.
Overall, 8,000 houses have been affected, he said. "The government has also been very generous towards (persons whose) unauthorised houses (were destroyed), providing compensation to all those whose houses have been damaged."
If a house has been completely destroyed, compensation of Rs 1,20,000 along with a house from the government is being provided, the minister said, adding that a total of Rs 9.21 crore has been paid out for these efforts so far.
"For minor damage due to water entering houses, Rs 70 lakh has been given as compensation to 2,800 houses (owners) for repairs. Along with Rs 70 lakh for household items, a total of Rs 1.40 crore has been provided as compensation.
"For unauthorised houses, up to Rs 1 lakh in compensation has been provided. If a house has been partially damaged, under SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) rules, only Rs 2,500 compensation is possible, but the state government has provided up to Rs 50,000 in compensation.
Additionally, 151 large cattle and 137 small cattle, including cows and buffaloes, have died across the state, Gowda said. For this, Rs 52.98 lakh in compensation has been paid.
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Fake UK Doctor Impersonator accused of killing 7 patients in Madhya Pradesh
Impersonator was once exposed by Mohammed Zubair
Damoh, Madhya Pradesh – A shocking case of medical fraud has come to light in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district, where a man posing as a UK-based cardiologist allegedly performed fatal heart surgeries on unsuspecting patients. The accused, identified as Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, is accused of faking the identity of British doctor Prof. N John Camm (also spelt by him as "Kem") and taking up employment at a Christian missionary hospital in Damoh.
According to news agency ANI, Yadav conducted several heart surgeries at the hospital without holding any valid medical qualifications. So far, at least seven deaths have been officially linked to his fake procedures, but local authorities and activists fear the real toll could be significantly higher.
This is not the first time Yadav's impersonation of the UK-based doctor has raised red flags. In July 2023, fact-checker and Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair had exposed a Twitter (now X) account that was spreading communal misinformation using the name and photo of “Prof. N John Camm,” a respected British cardiologist. Zubair’s investigation revealed that the individual behind the account was actually Narendra Yadav.
The impersonator had gained attention after making bizarre posts such as urging UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to be sent to France to quell riots—clearly attempting to gain traction through politically charged content. Zubair had shared detailed posts linking Yadav’s social media accounts to older fraud and impersonation cases, but despite public exposure, Yadav continued to operate unchecked.
The real Professor John Camm, emeritus professor of cardiology at St George's University in London, had also clarified that someone was misusing his identity online. The matter even led to legal threats against Zubair, as the impersonator attempted to defend his false identity.
This week, fresh revelations have linked Yadav to at least seven patient deaths at the Christ Missionary Hospital in Damoh. Advocate and district child welfare committee president Deepak Tiwari has alleged that the actual death toll might be much higher, as several cases may not have been reported officially.
Tiwari said, “Some patients who did not die came to us and told us about the incident… They had taken their father to the hospital. The guy was ready to operate, but they were apprehensive, so they took their father to Jabalpur. We then learned that this fake doctor was working at the hospital.”
He also added that Yadav has an older criminal case against him in Hyderabad and had failed to submit any valid ID documents at the hospital.
The controversy deepened after it was revealed that the missionary hospital where Yadav was operating receives government funds under the Ayushman Bharat health scheme.
Priyanka Kanoongo, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), confirmed that they had received a complaint about a fake doctor performing surgeries at a government-aided facility. She stated, “We were told that the hospital is associated with the Ayushman Bharat scheme and taking government money. This is a serious matter. We’ve taken cognisance and launched an investigation.”
Narendra Yadav’s ability to continue impersonating a foreign cardiologist, despite prior public exposure, points to serious lapses in verification and background checks—especially in hospitals receiving government support. What began as a social media impersonation case, flagged in 2023, has now turned into a criminal medical malpractice incident, potentially involving multiple deaths.
I was trolled and abused when I exposed him im 2023. Several right wing trolls supported him and fell for his Natuonalist tweets.
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 5, 2025
Now, Prof N John Camm, posed as UK-based cardiologist, forged documents to pass off as a UK-based cardiologist and conducted heart surgeries at the… pic.twitter.com/BvJOFr41jL
Prof N John Camm ji tweeted that he sent a legal Notice. He wants € 10,00,000 as compensation. Claims he is not same as Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav.
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) July 3, 2023
A little background 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/fHRkTLx0ul
