After a gap of few days, heavy rains started lashing Dakshina Kannada since Saturday night. Rains continued throughout Sunday too.
Following the rains, a few low-lying areas were inundated in and around Mangalore city. With the water flowing on the road, vehicles, especially two-wheeler riders had a tough time plying on the road. The drains too were overflowing.
Commuters near Mahakalipadpu, Jeppinamogeru, Bhagavathi Nagara in Kodialguthu
too faced tough time as roads were inundated with flood water.
Mangalore taluk received highest of 105.4 mm rain followed by Bantwal—68.4 mm, Puttur—57 mm, Sullia—57.8 mm and Belthangady—45 mm.
A compound wall collapsed at Nadupadav in Konaje Gram Panchayat limits. The compound wall belongs to Girish.
A huge tree fell on road, at Baabugudde in Attavara on Sunday. The tree was cleared by the MCC workers with the help of locals. Another tree fell on the road, at Pandeshwar railway crossing. The fire service personnel had to struggle to clear the road.
Few houses in low laying areas of Yekkur were also inundated.
Artificial floods
Uppoor in Brahmavar experienced artificial floods, as there is no space for water to flow following the widening of national highway. With the artificial floods, as many as 50 families were put to hardship in the region.
Villagers said that drains have been completely blocked. The National Highway authorities have not taken any measures to clear the choked drains. “Owing to lack of storm water drains, we are facing artificial floods,” they said.
If the rains continue to lash, then water might enter our houses. The drains should be repaired at the earliest, they demanded.
With the monsoon intensifying in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, farmers have started agriculture activities and few have even sown the paddy seeds. Farmers who have sown seeds in Uppoor are fearing the loss, with the artifical floods entering the paddy fields.
Brahmavar Revenue Inspector Raghava Shettigar, Uppoor Village Accountant Lakshminarayana Bhat and others visited the spot. A JCB machine has been pressed into service, for clearing the drains and to facilitate the easy flow of water.
The villagers said that in spite of Uppoor and Brahmavar facing artificial floods, none of the highway officials have visited the spot.
Many vehicle riders/drivers had tough time as their vehicles’ tyres were struck in the soil. Uppoor Gram Panchayat President Praveen Kumar said that he has already brought the problems faced by the residents, to the notice of MLA Raghupathy Bhat and Tahsildar.
In Kasargod
Sea erosion has intensified at Kavugoli in Kasargod. About 150 metre fisheries road has been swallowed by the sea in Mogral Puttur panchayat limits. Several coconut trees were washed away by the rough sea. Hundreds of families reside in Kavugoli. The residents allege that there is no retaining wall to check sea erosion. Though forest department had planted saplings to check sea erosion, several saplings have not survived.
