Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

A street vendor drinks water to beat the heat at KR Market in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J

1. Audit flags ₹3,000 monthly drinking water burden on poor families in Bengaluru

With a drinking water crisis looming over Bengaluru in the coming summer months following a 43% deficit in the south-west monsoon, the Water Satyagraha campaign has flagged the mounting financial burden on economically weaker families, who increasingly depend on private water tankers to meet their daily needs.

The preliminary water audit findings of the household survey conducted by the campaign revealed that economically weaker sections, particularly residents of slums, were spending a disproportionately large share of their income on purchasing drinking water from private tankers. It has predicted a shortfall of more than 600 million litres a day (MLD) in the city’s water supply.

“Poor families spend around ₹3,000 a month on drinking water, which is higher than the ₹2,000 monthly assistance provided to women under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme of the government of Karnataka,” said Syed Ahmed Hussain, convenor of the campaign and KPCC vice-president.

2. Curative religious rituals for untoward elephant incident during Shivamogga Dasara procession begins

A series of curative rituals, organised by the Shivamogga City Corporation following an untoward incident during the Dasara celebrations, began on November 3, 2026. Priests started the rituals at the Kote Seetharamanjaneya Swamy temple and the Kote Chandika Durgaparameshwari temple in Shivamogga district.

During the Dasara procession on October 21, the elephant carrying the howdah with the idol of Chamundeshwari suddenly turned back on the procession path and ran helter-skelter. A portion of the howdah and a few vehicles were damaged in the melee. No casualties were reported. Soon after the incident, priests and elected representatives of the city sought a ‘religious remedy’.

3. Armed man holds receptionist hostage during robbery bid in bag repair shop at Indiranagar

A helmet-wearing armed man allegedly barged into a shoe and bag repair shop on 100 feet road at Indiranagar in Bengaluru, assaulted a 23-year-old receptionist and attempted to rob her gold mangalsutra worth around ₹4.5 lakh on October 31. The incident took a dramatic turn when the woman managed to free her hands and raise an alarm, attracting the attention of passers-by.

The accused then held her hostage at knifepoint inside the shop and threatened the people who began gathering outside, triggering panic in the busy locality. Passers-by and traffic police personnel chased the accused and managed to apprehend him before handing him over to the Indiranagar police.

4. Runners from Belagavi finish Goa Ironman event

A few runners from Belagavi successfully completed the Ironman 70.3 in Goa on November 1. Tejas Patil recorded the fastest finish among participants from Belagavi, completing the event in 6 hours, 20 minutes, and 8 seconds.

Some athletes, including multiple-time Ironman finishers Santosh Shanbhag and Mayura Shivalikar, participated in individual events while some others joined them in relay events.

Published - November 03, 2026 06:28 pm IST