Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jun 21: Dakshina Kannada (DK) district has witnessed record rainfall over the past week (June 11 to 18), with rainfall almost doubling compared to the same period last year. While 242.2 mm of rain was recorded during this week last year, this year the district has received 473.1 mm. Moodbidri and Mulki taluks experienced the highest rainfall.

According to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Moodbidri recorded 622.9 mm of rain in the past seven days, compared to 267.1 mm last year, while Mulki received 594.2 mm, up from 309.1 mm. Belthangady and Bantwal also received significant rainfall, each recording around 530 mm. All taluks in the district have seen nearly double the rainfall compared to the previous year.

Between April 1 and May 31, a total of 82 houses in the district were fully damaged, and 705 houses partially damaged. Bantwal taluk reported the highest number of fully damaged houses at 34, followed by Ullal with 17. In terms of partial damage, 129 houses in Beltangady, 125 in Puttur, 108 in Bantwal, and 90 in Mangaluru were affected. Out of the 705 partially damaged houses, 677 have already received compensation. Relief work for 24 partially damaged houses in Puttur is still pending.

This season, 37 bridges have sustained damage across the district. Officials note that several bridges damaged during last year’s monsoon under the Panchayat Raj Engineering Division are yet to be repaired. While funds have now been sanctioned for four of those bridges, proposals have also been submitted for repair of 19 more. However, authorities remain sceptical about starting work before the end of the rainy season, even if funds are released.

In Beltangady taluk alone, 438 houses have been identified as being in vulnerable zones. The district administration has been relocating people from these homes to relief centres or to their relatives’ houses when red alerts are issued.

The heavy rains over a short span of time have led to increased damage across the district. Despite the extensive destruction to houses and infrastructure, the district administration has clarified that there is no shortage of relief funds. All nine taluk-level tahsildars have sufficient funds under their respective PD accounts.

As per the current disaster statistics in Dakshina Kannada, a total of 1,992 houses have been identified as being in vulnerable zones. The district comprises 92 flood-affected areas and 88 landslide-prone locations. Additionally, 145 government buildings and primary schools have sustained damage due to the heavy rainfall.