Incessant rains disrupt normal life in Karnataka's coastal districts

Bengaluru: Heavy rain continued to batter Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts on Thursday. The unyielding showers have hit normal life in Mangaluru with rain water gushing into residentials areas, including apartments, and flooding Kottara Chowki, Malemar, Pumpwell and Thokkottu Junction in the city.

The overnight showers flooded the Baikampady industrial area, where rainwater gushed into several godowns, printing presses, fabrication and plywood shops causing losses worth lakhs of rupees, according to Kanara Industries Association treasurer Ramachandra.

One side of the Circuit House road was closed for traffic following a landslide at Bejai. Dozens of vehicles were damaged after a compound wall caved in near Mary Hill. Several families were relocated to safer locations following flash floods at Matthabailu near Kinnigoli.

Mangaluru taluk recorded a massive 306 mm of rain in the last 24 hours (ending 8.30 am on Thursday). Surathkal registered 296.6 mm while Thenka and Ullal experienced 277.5 mm and 260 mm respectively.

Traffic hit on NH 75

A major landslide on Mangaluru-Bengaluru Highway (NH 75) near Dharmasthala Cross in Kadaba taluk brought the vehicular movement on the busy stretch to a standstill.  The movement of heavy vehicles, including buses, trucks and tankers, was completely stopped. The NHAI and Public Works Department have deployed men and machinery to clear the debris and clear the highway for traffic.

Unrelenting rain has swelled rivers and rivulets in Udupi district. Acres of paddy fields have been submerged. At least 29 people in the affected villages including Hejamady, Uchhila, Pudubettu, have been moved to safety with the help of boats. The swollen Kamini river poses a flooding threat to several villages on its banks.

The sharp showers on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday flooded the residential areas and roads, including KHB Layout, Sankriwada, Padmanabhanagar, Kaikini road and Bandishitta.

Heavy rains lashed the coastal towns of Uttara Kannada - Bhatkal and Honnavar - affecting the normal life.

Red alert sounded for Kodagu

The rain intensity was down in most parts of Kodagu district on Thursday. But Samjae (140 mm) and Bhagamandala (110 mm) continued to receive heavy rain. The district administration declared a holiday for schools on Friday after the weather department issued a red alert predicting heavy rain in the hilly district.

Meanwhile, a drastic increase in inflow has triggered flood fears in Kabini basin. The reservoir in HD Kote clocked an inflow of 25,000 cusec on Thursday. It was 13,000 cusec on Wednesday.

Heavy rain lashed a few areas in north Karnataka. Kushtagi town and parts of taluk received heavy rain for over three hours on Wednesday evening.

One killed in wall collapse

A one-year-old girl died while her mother and four family members sustained injuries when a portion of her house wall and roof sheet collapsed on them at Hebbal in Gangavathi taluk, Koppal district, late Wednesday night.

The injured were admitted to Gangavati taluk hospital. Tahsildar U Nagaraj gave away a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to kin of the deceased Prashanti.

The movement of vehicles is affected following a landslide near Circuit House in Mangaluru on Thursday. DH PHOTO/FAKRUDDIN H