Heavy rain lashes coast, Mangaluru city is worst hit

MANGALURU: Some stretches of the Bengaluru-Mangaluru and Kochi-Mumbai national highways (NH), and many streets in the city became waterways, after torrential rain lashed the city relentlessly from 7am on Thursday, affecting normal life. The effect of the rain was more pronounced in Dakshina Kannada (DK), than the two other coastal districts of Uttara Kannada and Udupi, where it was moderate to heavy.
There was no loss of life reported. There were reports of roads being damaged, and small landslides across the coastal districts. The DK and Udupi district administrations have declared a holiday for anganwadis, schools, PU and degree colleges on Friday, but SSLC supplementary examinations will be held as usual, in both the districts.
Though the monsoon has been active over the coast from the past three days, with widespread moderate to heavy rain, with isolated very heavy rain, Thursday’s rain was torrential in nature, with visibility on the road reduced to a few metres. There was flooding in low-lying areas, including roads, as the excess rain could not find its way into the overflowing drains.
There was heavy traffic gridlock at all major exit and entry junctions into the city, at Nanthoor, Pumpwell and KPT, especially Kottara Chowki, since the artificial flooding resulted in traffic being diverted into the city. There were traffic jams along the highway, and inside the city.
The situation at Kottara Chowki area in Mangaluru city was more pronounced, since it has been prone to artificial flooding, ever since a flyover was constructed there a decade back.
Both the NHAI and city corporation have failed to address the issue of artificial flooding, inconveniencing motorists and residents in that area every year, during the monsoon. Sources said that high tide in the sea aggravated the issue, since the drains could not empty into the sea, causing low-lying areas to bear the brunt of the rain. Apart from the NH at Kottara Chowki, another stretch of the NH that was badly affected, was the one from Adyar to Kannur. The knee-deep water saw many two-wheelers stalling, and riders could be seen pushing the vehicles in the water. A private hospital in Kannur was inundated. Areas like Kulshekar, Kudupu and Shakthi Nagar saw traffic jams in the morning, which eased by 12 pm.
Traffic affected at
Maravoor bridge
The intense rain saw a side of the approach road at Maravoor bridge, connecting the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) sink, causing fear of damage to the road, the PWD executive engineer, who inspected the spot, said the bridge was intact.
He said on the approach road, slight slipping of earth towards the airport side was caused, which will be attended to immediately, but since traffic was restricted on the bridge, there were long queues, with only one-way traffic from either side being permitted at a time.
Trains cancelled
The services of unreserved express special train No.06488 and 06489, between Subrahmanya Road and Mangaluru Central stations was cancelled, due to a landslip that occurred between Padil and Mangaluru Junction section at 9am on Thursday.
Railway authorities said that the landslip between Padil and Mangaluru Junction stations was likely to be restored at 4.30pm.