Karnataka adds 1,336 new COVID-19 cases; 16 deaths push toll
Bengaluru: Karnataka reported 1,336 new COVID-19 cases and 16 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 8,64,140 and the death toll to 11,557, the Health Department said on Tuesday.
The day also saw 2,100 patients getting discharged after recovery.
Of the 1,336 fresh cases reported on Tuesday, 729 were from Bengaluru Urban alone.
As of November 17 evening, cumulatively 8,64,140 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 11,557 deaths and 8,27,241 discharges, the Health Department said in its bulletin.
It said, out of 25,323 active cases, 24,630 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 693 are in ICU.
As many as nine of the 16 deaths reported on Tuesday are from Bengaluru Urban, followed by Dakshina Kannada (2), Ballari, Dharwad, Raichur, Tumakuru, and Uttara Kannada (1).
Most of the dead were either with a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) or Influenza-like illness (ILI).
Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru Urban accounted for 729, followed by Tumakuru (89), Mysuru (52), Bengaluru Rural (40), Mandya (38), Hassan and Dakshina Kannada (30), Chikkamagaluru (29), Davangere and Bagalkote (24) and Chikkaballapura (21) among others.
Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 3,58,606 infections, followed by Mysuru (49,600) and Ballari (37,938).
Among discharges too, Bengaluru Urban tops the list with 3,36,880 followed by Mysuru (47,884) and Ballari (37,055).
A total of over 96,44,009 samples have been tested so far, out of which 75,384 were tested on Tuesday alone, and 13,392 among them were rapid antigen tests.
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Karnataka records 274 springs in first statewide census, majority located in Western Ghats
Hubballi: In its first-ever comprehensive census conducted during 2023-24, Karnataka has identified 274 natural springs across the State with 144 classified as perennial, 114 as seasonal and 16 reported to have dried up.
The enumeration was carried out by the Karnataka Minor Irrigation and Groundwater Development Department in association with the Groundwater Directorate as part of a Union government initiative, according to a Deccan Herald report. Officials were quoted as saying that the nine-month exercise involved field visits to nearly all identified springs. These springs were digitally mapped using a dedicated mobile application.
Belagavi district recorded the highest number of springs at 59, followed by Uttara Kannada with 31, while Chamarajanagar and Kodagu reported 23 each. Dharwad, Ramanagar, Bengaluru Rural, Davangere and Kolar districts have one spring each.
Bendru Teertha in Dakshina Kannada is the only hot spring documented in the State, which is attributed to a distinct hydrological formation. Springs in Talacauvery in Kodagu, Javali in Chikkamagaluru and Ambutheertha in Shivamogga, are the source points of major rivers such as the Cauvery, Hemavathi and Sharavathi.
According to the directorate, springs are natural discharge points where groundwater flows to the surface through openings in the earth’s crust, which occur when the water table intersects with the ground surface or when groundwater is forced out through fractures, faults or permeable rock layers.
The Western Ghats and Malnad regions, covering districts like Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi and Shivamogga, account for a significant share of the springs due to high rainfall and favourable geological conditions.
K B Rajendra, Director of the Groundwater Directorate, was quoted by Deccan Herald as saying that nearly 80 per cent of the springs are located in rural areas. He noted that apart from those associated with religious or historical sites, most springs remain open and lack protective measures.
Noting their vital contributions to drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation, especially in areas with hills and mountains, Rajendra said that these springs help maintain the flow of rivers and streams when the weather is dry, thereby supporting ecological balance and promoting biodiversity.
He added that the census findings would serve as a database for conservation, rejuvenation efforts, groundwater management and long-term water resource planning in the State.
