Rains disrupt normal life in many places in Karnataka

MANGALURU/ UDUPI/KARWAR/ KODAGU: The state saw at least two rain-related deaths on Saturday. While a 60-year-old woman is suspected to have been washed away in the flooded Palguni river in Shirlalu in Venur police station limits in Mangaluru on Saturday, a man died in Kodagu after a tree fell on him in his estate following heavy winds. 

In the Mangaluru incident, following incessant rains, the Palguni river was in spate, eyewitnesses told former MLA Prabhakar Bangera and Venur police. that the victim Revathy, had gone out to wash clothes by the riverside. It is suspected that she slipped and drowned in the river, sources from the Venur police station told Express. Police have registered a case of unnatural death following a complaint filed by Ravathy’s son Ranjith.

Due to strong winds and heavy downpour, trees and poles came down crashing disrupting traffic flow across the district. A tree fell on the road at Mundaje in Beltangady taluk throwing traffic on Bantwal-Kadur road out of gear for a few hours. Traffic flow was disrupted for few hours as a tree crashed at Belalu. In Kabaka in Puttur taluk, areca farms were inundated in rainwater. 

A few houses and areca palms in Kavu in Puttur taluk also were damaged due to strong winds. A house in Hosabettu was damaged when a tree crashed on it. A portion of an old building in Bhavanthi street collapsed on a couple of two-wheelers parked on the road. A part of the old building had collapsed in the previous monsoon.Fire personnel had a tough time as four trees crashed on a compound wall on the Jail road. At Pachhanady on the outskirts of the city, a huge tree crashed on a transformer.   

Rain returns with gusto in Udupi dist
Udupi: Rain returned with gusto in Udupi with most parts of the district getting heavy downpour on Saturday. Rain coupled with gusty winds lashed Udupi, Hebri, Kundapur, Shankaranarayana and surrounding areas for more than an hour in the early hours on Saturday. The rain left agriculture fields inundated. Uppooru, Santhekatte, Kaup and surrounding villages in Udupi district also received rain for more than an hour. There was moderate rainfall in Karkala. 

Though the heavy rains cheered residents, it left farmers worried as paddy cultivated in Kaup was submerged in about one foot deep water at many places. “Now transplantation of paddy saplings is also mechanised and the heavy machines cannot enter the fields when there is a flood-like situation. So we are left with no option but to pray and wait for no more rains for at least few days for water to get drained,” said Vishnumurthi Bangera, a farmer from Kaup. The picturesque Kudlu waterfall in Hebri has come alive with the copious rain on Saturday. 

According to the control room at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Udupi received 62.6 mm rain, Kundapur 87.1 mm and Karkala 66.3 mm rain in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Saturday.  A compound wall of Sri Vishnumurthi Temple in Hermunde in Karkala taluk collapsed on Friday incurring an estimated loss of Rs 30,000.

Rock falls on road, blocks traffic
Karwar: A huge rock fell on a road near Chippihakkala village in Honnavar taluk on Saturday due to heavy rainfall. No casualties were reported.According to locals, a huge rock fell on a road, blocking the traffic for more than three-four hours. The villagers informed the police and forest departments, which cleared the road. Three cattle electrocuted after they came in contact with a snapped live electricity wire at Alageri village in Ankola. All 12 taluks of in Uttara Kannada district have been receiving heavy rainfall for the last two days. Many trees have been fallen on houses in Honnavar, Kumta, Bhatkal and other taluks. A couple of roads in Bhatkal washed away in the rain.

Heavy downpour claims one life in Kodagu
Madikeri: While farmers and tourists in Kodagu enjoyed the sight of rainfall, it was seen otherwise by many villagers who suffered its wrath. P C Ahmed Kutti Haji, owner of Mubarak Estate in Nellihudikeri village was killed in heavy rains. Deceased Ahmed, a passionate collector of over 100 vintage cars, was crushed after a tree fell on him in his estate following heavy winds. 

The district has been witnessing heavy rainfall for the past two days and DC Sreevidya P I’s timely declaration of holiday to schools and colleges has saved trouble to the students. Rivers and falls in full swell following bountiful rainfall, it has also brought Kodagu to a standstill with no electricity supply throughout. 

Over 70 electric poles have been uprooted in the district and numerous trees have fallen blocking the roads. The CESC officials are working effortlessly to provide power to the district, however, they too are facing the hurdle of continuous downpour. The water level in Harangi Reservoir has increased to 2792.18 ft with an inflow of 1647 cusecs of water. Overall, the district seems to be hibernating with no power supply post heavy rainfall.