Very heavy rain expected along Karnataka coast

Very heavy rain, which Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts witnessed on Tuesday, will continue in the coastal districts at least till Friday, even as south interior Karnataka will get heavy rain during the period, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD is yet to formally declare the onset of southwest monsoon in Karnataka, an official said and added that they would wait for a couple of days to make the formal declaration.

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil told The Hindu that while the district administration was preparing for the onset of the monsoon by June 1, there was a sudden low pressure formation very close to the south Karnataka-north Kerala coast by Tuesday morning.

Commuters at a flooded bus stop were left stranded in Mangaluru on Tuesday.  

This “monsoon-induced low pressure” resulted in the downpour and Mangaluru taluk received about 400 mm rainfall within a few hours. The inability of the existing drainage network’s capacity to handle additional load, coupled with the high tide in the Arabian Sea resulted in waterlogging in many parts of the city between 10 a.m. and noon. However, water drained out in most parts of the city by afternoon, Mr. Senthil said.

Police Commissioner Vipul Kumar said that two more platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, in addition to the existing two, were being summoned. Leaving just two persons at each police station, all police personnel were asked to join the rescue work, he added.

As per the IMD warning, north interior Karnataka would witness thundershowers with gusty winds in the next three days. IMD has warned very heavy rain in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts till Friday.

Mangaluru: A view of a flooded locality after a thunderstorm, in Mangaluru on Tuesday, May 29, 2018.   | Photo Credit: PTI