Karnataka adds 1,565 new COVID-19 cases, 21 deaths
Bengaluru: Karnataka reported 1,565 fresh COVID-19 cases as the overall tally reached 8,61,647 while 21 deaths pushed the toll to 1,529, the Health Department said on Sunday.
The state continued to show a sharp decline in the COVID-19 cases and fatalities from over 10,700 cases and above 200 deaths a day two months ago to mere 1,500-odd cases and 21 deaths now.
According to the Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, the COVID-19 recovery and mortality rates were 95.50 percent and 1.33 percent respectively.
The total infections comprise 8,22,953 discharges cumulatively including 2,363 on Sunday and 27,146 active cases including 746 in ICUs, a bulletin issued by the department said.
More than 50 percent of the infections in the state were contributed by Bengaluru with 840 cases whereas there were six deaths in the city.
Cumulatively, the city has reported 3,57,280 infections, 4,003 deaths, 3,35,105 discharges, including 847 on Sunday, and 18,171 active cases.
Only Bengaluru showed the infections in three digits while the rest others were either in single-digit or double digits.
There was a welcome trend of zero fatalities in 18 districts of the state including Kalaburagi where the first death due to coronavirus took place in the country.
According to the bulletin, 79 fresh infections were reported in Tumakuru, followed by 71 in Mysuru, 52 in Chitradurga, 47 in Belagavi, 46 in Mandya, and 45 in Uttara Kannada.
Bagalkote, Ballari, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapura, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Davangere, Dharwad, Hassan, Kalaburagi, Kodagu, Raichur, and Shivamogga were also among the districts where cases were reported.
The health bulletin showed that there were three deaths in Mysuru and two deaths each in Ballari and Dakshina Kannada.
One death each due to coronavirus was reported in Bagalkote, Davangere, Dharwad, Hassan, Haveri, Tumakuru, Uttara Kannada, and Vijayapura.
As many as 99,606 tests were done on Sunday including 82,531 using the RT-PCR and other methods taking the total tests done so far to 94.92 lakh, the department added.
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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.
