Incessant rains lash Dakshina Kannada; landslides affect traffic movement

Mangaluru: Heavy rainfall continued to lash the Dakshina Kannada district on Sunday.

Due to heavy rainfall, a landslide occurred adjacent to NH-169 at Kethikal in Thiruvail village near Vamanjoor, resulting in the accumulation of displaced soil on the right-hand side of the highway.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Project Director said that the NHAI has mobilised its team to the site, and removal of soil from the highway is in progress. Safety measures and traffic diversions have been implemented by NHAI to ensure the smooth flow of traffic at the location. No serious damage was caused by the slide.

The Kethikal area had experienced landslide during the previous monsoon, inconveniencing families residing on the elevated areas, many of whom shifted thereafter. The authorities had taken up soil nailing at the spot to prevent further landslides. It was also planned to construct a gabion wall at Kethikal to prevent landslides.

Another landslide had occurred between Jokatte and Padil section of the railway line. As a result, trains are running slowly.

Further, a minor landslide occurred at Naguri near Kankanady in the city and has affected several houses. Around 12 houses are facing threat and their residents have been shifted to safer locations.

CCTV footage of the collapse of a huge compound wall at Suvarna Lane in Kankanady has gone viral on social media.

People had a tough time wading through the knee-deep flood waters at Pandeshwara Shivanagara fourth cross.

Pudu Gram Panchayat, under Mangaluru taluk reported 189.5 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on June 15 (Sunday), according to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). It was followed by 180.5 mm rainfall in Neerumarga, Meramajalu (174 mm), Bala Gram Panchayat (165.5 mm), Patrame (162.5 mm), Amtadi (159.5 mm) and Badagabelluru (150 mm) rainfall.