"The rainfall witnessed during the last 7-8 days is the highest recorded in the last 50 years," Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre director (KSNDMC) G.S. Srinivas Reddy told .
Noting that the rains were not sudden but continuation of the southwest monsoon season from September, Reddy said two active systems in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal have resulted in the downpour.
"Northeast monsoon in October-December contributes 16 per cent of the southern state's annual rainfall. With rains so far, it is suffice to say the northeast monsoon is normal," said Reddy.
While the northeast monsoon is active in the Bay, many systems were detected in the Arabian Sea as well, pointed out Reddy.
About 7,200 people have been shifted to the 28 relief camps in flood-hit districts in the central, coastal and northern regions of the state.
In addition to the six National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams stationed in the affected areas, an Army column has been deployed in Raichur district in the state's northern region.
State Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiyurappa took stock of the situation and had a video conference with the deputy commissioners of the rain-affected districts.
Each affected family has been given Rs 10,000 to buy clothes and utensils.
According to a KSNDMC report, water level in all the 33 reservoirs across the state are above 80 per cent of their capacity, with Bhadra, Ghataprabha and Malaprabha brimming.
On Wednesday, the state received 120 per cent more rainfall at 9.5 mm than 4.3 mm normal rainfall which occurs around this time of the year.
On the west coast, Uttara Kannada district received 226 per cent more rain at 16 mm, in north interior area, Bagalkot, Belagavi and Gadag received 500 per cent more rainfall at 14.8 mm, 17.6 mm and 20.1 mm respectively.
In south interior areas such as Ballari, Bengaluru Rural, Chikaballapura, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Davanagere and Kolar, Mysuru, Ramanagara and Tumakuru registered above 100 per cent rainfall.
( With inputs from IANS )