Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, July 5: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds battered several parts of Udupi district since Friday night, damaging at least 15 houses and causing losses worth several lac rupees, even as officials reported extensive damage to residential properties across Byndoor, Kapu, Kundapur and Brahmavar taluks.

The district recorded an average rainfall of 42.4 mm during the last 24 hours. Hebri received the highest rainfall at 71.7 mm, followed by Kundapur (56.5 mm), Byndoor (51.5 mm), Brahmavar (44.8 mm), Udupi (31.0 mm), Karkala (14.6 mm) and Kapu (4.7 mm).

In Byndoor taluk, strong winds partially damaged the cement-sheet roof of the house belonging to Thimmappa Lingayya at Kirimanjeshwara village, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 20,000. In Paduvari village, the tiled roof of Seetha Kharvi's house at Alivekodi was blown away, causing damage estimated at Rs 10,000.

In Kapu taluk, the houses of Madhava Poojary of Pangala and Vishnumurthy of Innanje sustained partial damage due to the heavy rain and gusty winds. The losses have been estimated at Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively.

Kundapur taluk bore the brunt of the storm, with multiple incidents reported. At Kodi village, a coconut tree crashed onto the house of Ibrahim, causing partial damage estimated at Rs 20,000. In Hemmadi village, a large banyan tree branch fell on the house of Chikku, damaging the property to the tune of around Rs 80,000.

Further damage was reported at Mavinakatte in Karkunje village, where a tree fell on the house of Hajira, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 50,000. In Kuntaneralu, another tree toppled onto the house of Muthu, causing damage worth around Rs 20,000.

In Brahmavar taluk, a tree fell on the house of Aita Poojary at Waramballi village, causing damage estimated at Rs 50,000, official sources said.

While the latest district reports stated that 15 houses were damaged in the overnight rain and wind, detailed information made available so far accounts for damage to eight houses.

An earlier official assessment had placed the loss at Rs 2.20 lac after seven houses were damaged, indicating that the extent of destruction increased as additional incidents were reported from different parts of the district.

Authorities are continuing to assess the damage caused by the spell of heavy rain and strong winds, with further updates expected as field inspections progress across the affected areas.