MANGALURU/UDUPI: The first pre-monsoon showers that lashed the city non-stop on Tuesday - instead of bringing relief from summer heat - proved to be a bane as large swathes of the city was marooned. It took just nine hours of rains starting from 9am, which was still continuing with lessened intensity, to bring the city down to its knees. There was no respite from rain till late evening. It also resulted in the death of a woman in the city.
In all, the ferocity of rain can be gauged from the fact that the Panambur Weather Observatory recorded 270 mm of rainfall at Surathkal area from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. This is more or less the same amount of rainfall that the city may have received gauging at the intensity. This is also perhaps the highest rainfall recorded in the past few decades on a single day, as in the past decade the rainfall for a day has not crossed 100mm.
Vehicles ply on a waterlogged road after a thunderstorm, in Mangaluru
The continuous downpour, with heavy winds, claimed life of woman at Udayanagar near KPT. The victim was identified as Mohini, 61, who died after the retaining wall collapsed on her house and she was buried under the debris, said K Bhaskar, Mayor. The rain fury also caused power outages in Dakshina and Udupi as more than a 1,000 poles in the two districts were knocked down or were damaged due to landslides.
The incessant rain which started around 9am turned out to be deluge after a few hours. Within an hour after heavy downpour, low-lying areas started getting water-logged and it extended to other places which never witnessed any floods in the history.
Low lying areas in Jeppinamogaru, Kottara Chowki, areas in Derlakatte and Shaktinagar, Kulshekar, PVS Circle, Padil junction nearby areas were waterlogged. Other severely affected areas were M G Road, Alake, Mannagudda, Thokkottu, Mahaveer Circle, Kodial Guttu, Urwa- Hoigebail, Bejai areas too were inundated. Most of the complaints included waterlogging in residential and commercial areas. As the rain water level started to rise in low lying areas where there was no escape for the waters, it also swept away some of the vehicles parked in those areas.
School children being rescued by fire personnel in Mangaluru
“I never witnessed such a flooding in the past 25 years in the city. Today my I have to shut down my shop as water is swelling in the adjacent major storm water drain,” said Shivaram, a shop vendor situated in city’s arterial road in MG Road.
At Attavar, locals tied ropes from to the KMC hospital to the medical shops opposite the hospital to facilitate those trying to cross the road. Several cars were submerged at the entrance of the hospital and people's entry was blocked due to flooding from the overflowing storm water drain.
A view of a flooded locality after a thunderstorm in Mangaluru on Tuesday (PTI)
The parking area at the Mangaluru Central railway station was flooded and postal consignments were damaged. The road from Bondel leading to Vamajoor was closed due to flooding which occurred due to on going railway works near Pachhanady.
Rains created havoc in several areas
An old pedestrian bridge was damaged in Anegundi Road in Bejai. However, there were no casualties there. In Baikampady Industrial Area , scores of workers had to wade through waters to reach exit gates.
In Alike, dozens of children stranded in a school was evacuated to safer place in boats. The artificial flooding also saw snakes wading in the water. Many senior citizens of Mangaluru expressed that the Tuesday’s flooding was unprecedented which they had never witnessed before.
However, IMD Bengaluru said that monsoon had set over Kerala on Tuesday and had not entered Karnataka as of now. ``We are observing for two or three days and then we will declare,’’ said an official. Regarding what the downpour was – whether unseasonal or pre-monsoon, the official said: It seems like pre-monsoon caused due to low pressure area off the coast,’’ the official added.
Surprisingly, barring Mangaluru and Bantwal taluks all other taluks of Dakshina Kananda – Sullia, Puttur and Belthangady - did not witness the downpour the city witnessed.
Rain leaves one dead in Udupi
The non-stop rains and thunderstorm in Udupi district claimed a life and injured five. Major damage was reported in Karkala and in Udupi taluks.
On Tuesday, a member of Gram Panchayat was killed due to thunder storm at Karkala. Sheela 35, lost her life at around 3.30am after she was struck by lightning. She was member of BJP and a resident of Basathi Shale, Bailuru, Karkala. Her husband, Bhaskar who was sleeping near her survived with injuries. Sheela and her husband eked a living as daily wagers. Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar visited her house and offered condolences to the bereaved family. In Karkala taluk, six houses were damaged and two arecanut plantations were damaged.
Udyavara near Udupi was the worst hit with than 100 trees being uprooted due to strong winds. A huge banyan tree was uprooted and had fallen on the road, blocking vehicular movement for long time. Two children also got injured as a tree fell on the houses and also three such minor injury cases reported. Houses also were damaged as 15 large hoardings fell on them at Balepadhe. As many as 60 electric poles were damaged due to heavy winds.
According to officials, at Udyavara Village alone, 34 houses were damaged at Pitrodi, Sampike Nagara and Melpette. One shop was damaged after a tree fell on it. Due to heavy rains and the resultant damage, Udupi DC Priyanka Mary Francis and ADC Anuradha visited the places. She later declared two-day holiday for school up to PUC on May 29 and 30.
"From past three days, 513 electrical poles have been uprooted and estimated material loss is Rs. 38 lakh. On Monday some restoration work was taken, however it was not possible on Tuesday. ``As there was thunder and lightning even during day time, it was risky for person to climb poles and also it is very slippery,’’ said the DC. The river crossing tower at Padukere bridge had fallen into the river and experts were called to restore the work. ``In Udyavara the devastation is too much and restoration works cannot happen soon. However in city, the issues have been sorted," said Narasimha Pandit, Superintendent Engineer.
NOT A CYCLONE
Sasikanth Senthil, deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada told public not to panic saying the rain was not due to any cyclone.
In an official communique, Senthil the District administration has made elaborate arrangement to safeguard life and properties of people. Citizens can make use of toll free number to reach out for any assistance during emergency. The toll free number ‘1077’ .
He also warned anyone venturing near the sea including fishermen. “Those who staying close to sea/river are advised to stay away or go to other places,” he said.
The helpline setup by district administration received more than 50 calls on Tuesday. Most of them were city and were related to waterlogging, tree fall and house damages.
A view of a flooded locality after a thunderstorm in Mangaluru on Tuesday (PTI)