Dakshina Kannada receives heavy rain; schools let off

MANGALURU: As predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department, Dakshina Kannada received heavy rainfall on Thursday night. Intermittent rain continued right through Friday. Holidays were declared for schools on Friday and Saturday.Various roads in the district were flooded. Jeppinamogaru Railway gate was inundated as a wall reportedly collapsed into the storm water drain, blocking it completely.

Vehicles were forced to ply through the hip-deep pool created by the blockade of the drain. The Jeppinamogaru-Mahakalipadpu road is declared closed for a day from Friday night for road works. Pumpwell road and Marnamikatte Kankanady road can be used as alternatives, the police said.

As a precautionary measure, Dakshina Kannada district declared holidays for schools on Friday and Saturday. By the time the announcement came, most of the schools started functioning on Friday, and parents dropped their children to schools. Following the announcement, the schools were closed in next two hours, and children were sent back home. 

By Friday morning, the district received rains ranging from 65 mm to 125 mm in various places. As much as 125 mm rain was recorded at Beluvai, 125.50 mm at Boliyaru in Mangaluru taluk, 132 mm at Kukkipadi in Bantwal taluk and 125.50 mm at Kanakamajalu at Sullya taluk.  Meanwhile, the IMD predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region. As per its statement, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in coastal Karnataka and the rainfall could exceed 115 mm on Saturday.

On June 11, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over all coastal Karnataka. On June 12, heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in the coast and the quantum of rainfall could exceed 65 mm. On June 13, heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places, it said. Heavy rain had wrecked havoc in Dakshina Kannada, particularly in Mangaluru city, recently inundating low-lying areas. It had also exposed the poor drainage and wayward constructions in the growing coastal city blocking natural flow of rainwater. Neighbouring Udupi district had also experienced heavy rain.