State experiences monsoon trailer

Coastal Karnataka, Bagalkot, Belgaum, Gadag get drenched

Many districts of coastal and North Karnataka received heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms on Monday, setting the stage for the arrival of monsoon in the State.

The State meteorological department has forecast the entry of monsoon into the State in the next 24 hours and it has also issued heavy rainfall warning at isolated places in coastal Karnataka. The rainfall shall exceed 65 mm during the next 48 hours, said a note from the department.  

Speaking to Deccan Herald, B Puttanna, director of Bangalore meteorological office, said there were favourable conditions for the onset of monsoon in the State. However, it is also a fact that the monsoon is yet to hit the Kerala coast, where it traditionally sets in first. The rainfall in different parts of the State on Monday were pre-monsoon showers, he said.

Puttanna said as per the meteorological department prediction, monsoon may set in simultaneously in Kerala and Karnataka on Tuesday.  
Puttanna said during the onset of monsoon, heavy rains with thundershowers are an expected phenomenon. “We call it monsoon burst in meteorological terminology,” he said.

In coastal areas

On Monday, rain lashed Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. People heaved a sigh of relief from the scorching sun as the sky remained cloudy since afternoon in Mangalore. In the last 24 hours, Sullia taluk received the highest rainfall of 9.6 mm, followed by Puttur—8 mm, Mangalore—5.6 mm, Bantwal—2.8 mm and Belthangady—1.2 mm. Last year, on the same day the district had received 31.2 mm rainfall. People were seen taking shelter from the rain in front of shops.

In Udupi district, Karkala received the highest rainfall of 14.2 mm, Udupi 6.2 mm rainfall and Kundapur 5.4 mm. Following heavy rain, a Mayflower tree was uprooted and it fell on a shop and two autorickshaws at Maravanthe in Baindoor on Monday morning.

The roof of the shop was damaged and electricity wires snapped. Heavy rain lashed between 4 pm and 6 pm in Udupi. Owing to the lack of stormwater drains, water from the drains overflowed onto the road, causing inconvenience to vehicle users.

The situation was similar in many districts of North Karnataka. Belgaum, Bagalkot and Uttara Kannada districts received showers early morning and in the evening. In Uttara Kannada district, Honnavar received 27.4 mm rain in the last 24 hours. The rainfall was 25 mm in Karwar. Dandeli, Kumta, Siddapura, Sirsi, Mundagod, Bhatkal and rural areas of Karwar taluk received heavy showers in the evening.

People got the much-needed relief from the hot sun in Gadag district, with rains for four hours in the evening. Vehicle users and pedestrians had to wade through flooded roads. Naragund taluk in the district also received rains. There were heavy showers in Bagalkot and Belgaum districts for more than two hours towards evening.