Mangalore: Welcome respite - Surprise showers rejuvenate city

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Apr 26: Even as election fever caught up in the city with popular names in the political sphere turning on the heat on Friday April 26, a welcome shower in the evening breathed fresh life leaving the city rejuvenated after days of seething heat.

While overcast conditions indicated rains in a few places right since morning, it was not until evening that the rain started pouring. Heavy clouds enveloped the city afternoon on, though the mercury level hardly seemed to come down.

The surprise showers caught some people unawares, while some others, especially pedestrians, seemed to have taken a cue from the gloomy weather and walked out of their homes armed with umbrellas. It was a welcome sight to see the colourful umbrellas make a comeback in the middle of summer.

With the April heat being at its scorching best, the rain not only cooled the city but had the citizens yearning for more. Most people were seen enjoying the feel of soothing raindrops, not even bothering to run for cover and getting drenched willingly.

The rain left a kind of freshness in the air, and even though it did not pour too heavily, it was enough to give temporary respite from the summer heat.

Several parts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts received welcome rains in the evening. The people from Karnataka coast, who had been finding it hard to venture out of their homes because of scorching heat coupled with frequent power shut down, got temporary reprieve from their suffering on account of this rain.

Dharnappa Shetty (47) from Madatadka Kombelu from Kavalamudoor village in Beltangady taluk died of lightening on Friday evening. He was working in the courtyard of his home, when lightning struck. Shetty is survived by wife and three daughters. The walls of his house developed cracks, and electrical wiring suffered extensive damages in the incident. Post mortem of his body was conducted at the community health centre in Bantwal. Several other houses in the region, and electrical equipments and wiring, also suffered heavy damage.

A large number of places in the coast experienced rain coupled with thunder, lightning, and strong wind. Trees were uprooted on houses, while tiles of houses were blown away, and power problems were experienced on account fallen trees on power cables, near Sullia and Moodbidri. Lightning damaged wiring of a house belonging to Honnamma Nalike in Aliyoor got burnt, and electrical and electronic equipment in her house were damaged. The loss in this incident has been estimated at Rs 75,000.

A mother and her child fell unconscious due to electric shocks at Nettar near Bellare in Sullia taluk. They however, recovered after treatment. The duo was passing from near a severed live electric cable that had fallen down due to wind and rain on Friday evening.  Power supply to various areas got cut because of falling branches of trees. Artificial flood was experienced in Bellare.

Normal life in Udupi district was thrown out of gear at various places due to sudden rain. Traffic was also affected on highway and other roads. The vehicular movement on national highway 66 was messy as road work is in progress, and rain water flowed on the road due to the absence of drains.

Cloudy weather continues in most parts of the two districts, and families who have organized auspicious functions during this week are a worried lot.

Widespread rains were reported from Puttur taluk. Uppinangady and Dharmasthala experienced hails. Although Panambur, Kulai, Bajpe and Bykampady got good rain, the city received only light drizzle for a few minutes. Bantwal, Kinnigoli, and other parts also got good rain.