Monsoon a little too soon

Usually coastal region receives heavy rains in the first week of June. However, this year Dakshina Kannada district received an average of 44.4 mm rain in April and average rainfall of 111.2 mm rains in first five days of May.

Six persons lost their lives as lightning struck them. All of them belong to Dakshina Kannada district.

Heavy rains coupled with gusty winds wreaked havoc in Vittal and Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district, damaging crops on Monday night. 

A total of 281 arecanut trees were uprooted at Kula village.

Over 500 banana plants, coconut trees and mango trees, Singapore jackfruit and Jambunerale (jamun) trees were uprooted.

An electricity pole was uprooted at Pandelu. The roof of a house was damaged at Punacha village.  

No rain related deaths were reported in Udupi or Kodagu.

Those who lost their lives, three belonged to Puttur taluk, two to Mangalore taluk and one to Belthangady taluk.

The deputy commissioner convened an emergency meeting after six persons lost their lives and issued a press release on the dos and don’ts during lightning.

He also directed that lightning-prone areas in the district be identified and lightning arresters be installed in a few areas.

The gusty winds not only uprooted several trees and caused partial damage to 79 houses in Puttur, Uppinangady and Vittal region, but also damaged agricultural crops in many parts of the district.

Mescom officials said rains partially damaged 50 transformers and uprooted 600 electricity poles in the district. Compared to Dakshina Kannada district, damage was less in Udupi and Kodagu districts.

While 29 houses were partially damaged in Karkala taluk in Udupi district, two houses were partially damaged in Perdur village in Udupi.

No damages reported in Kundapur.