Bengaluru, May 29 -- In a meeting with senior officials on Wednesday, chief minister Siddaramaiah directed district in-charge ministers and senior bureaucrats to immediately visit rain-affected areas and take stock of the situation on the ground as several parts of Karnataka reeled under heavy rainfall with reports of flooding and damage to property from across the state.

The directive comes amid concerns that continued downpours may lead to worse conditions in low-lying and landslide-prone areas. Five people have died in the state since May 22 in rain-related incidents.

"Ministers and district in-charge secretaries must immediately visit the flood-affected regions and conduct a comprehensive review of the situation," Siddaramaiah said....