Schools, colleges closed as heavy rains lash Udupi district

Pics: Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi/Kundapur

Udupi, Jul 27: Deputy commissioner Dr M T Reju has announced holiday for schools and colleges in anticipation of heavy rains in the district on Saturday July 27. This means students will have the entire weekend off.

Heavy rains are expected to lash the coastal region during the next 48 hours. The wind velocity may reach up to 45-55 km along the coastline, the weather department has said.

Friday July 27 witnessed heavy downpour, with Karkala receiving good rains in the morning and evening. Udupi, Kundapur, Kaup, Brahmavar and other places also received good rainfall.

In Alevoor, a tree fell on Sharada Poojary's house causing loss worth Rs 9,000. Similar incidents were also reported in Padoor and Innanje, where a wall collapsed causing loss worth Rs 50,000.

In Kundapur, electricity supply was affected and vehicular movement came to a halt as a giant tree fell on an electric pole near Basrur in Siddapur state highway on Friday July 26.

As the tree fell around 1.30 am, the operation of removing the tree was delayed and vehicles had to stop moving for a long time. A few of the vehicles were asked to take a detour from Hunsemakki road.

As it was raining heavily, the visibility also dropped. Police and locals prevented a KSRTC bus from hitting the fallen tree by signalling to the driver with torch, thanks to which a major tragedy was prevented.

Even three hours after the incident, neither MESCOM nor forest officials visited the spot. Kundapur police who were taking rounds informed MESCOM and forest officials who reached the spot at 4 am, which angered locals and vehicle drivers.

As the tree fell, in areas like Basrur, Balkur, Japti and Hunsemakki electricity supply was affected.