Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje/Spoorthi Ullal/Ramesh Pandith

With Inputs from Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (SB/JD)

Mangaluru/Udupi, May 29: People in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi on Tuesday May 29 woke up to torrential rains that lashed the coastal region of Karnataka, causing widespread damage.

Holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts on May 29 and 30.

There were reports claiming that a boy had died in Attavar due to rains, however, the fire personnel confirmed that the boy was rescued and is well.

From a few days, the city experienced sporadic rainfall during late evenings. On Tuesday, the momentum picked up as a thick blanket of grey clouds poured down aggressively over the region. Many parts in the city have flooded. Trees have fallen in many areas and buildings and compound walls have been damaged.

Traffic snarls were witnessed on several arterial roads of the city in the morning with normal life being affected as public faced tough time commuting through the flooded roads.

A completely flooded Pumpwell flyover construction site and Thokottu affected traffic severely. A house under construction collapsed at Pumpwell. Kuthar junction virtually turned into a mini island as its surroundings were inundated. The worst hit were two-wheeler riders who could not judge the depth of potholes due to the flooding.

Rainwater flooded Padil underbridge and many vehicles are stuck at present.

More than 20 vehicles were witnessed sinking in rainwater at Bejai and Hampankatta. A few shops also suffered damages.

As informed earlier by the meteorological department, monsoon has hit coastal Karnataka and Kerala which is a week early than it happens every year.

According to meteorological department, Bengaluru, thunder storm likely to affect the district within next 3 hours accompanied with light to moderate spells of rain and strong winds reaching 30 kmph or more.

Udupi

A huge banyan tree was uprooted in Udyavar due to heavy rain. The banyan tree has fallen on the road blocking vehicular movement. Many hoardings, electric poles have also been uprooted. As per sources, nearly 70 electric poles have toppled across Udupi.

Due to heavy rains and the resultant damage, Udupi DC Priyanka Mary Francis has declared two-day holiday, on May 29 and 30, for schools in the district. Holiday had already been declared for schools in Udyavar earlier in the morning.

In Belle gram panchayat limits, lightning struck the house of a person named George Saldanha, causing damages to a television set, two laptops, fans and wiring. The total loss has been estimated at Rs 10 lac.

Electricity supply has been interrupted since Sunday May 28. More than 15 hoardings on National Highway 66 have been damaged due to wind and rain. Several houses have also been damaged due to fallen trees and hoardings. Relief measures are under way.

Speaking to daijiworld, Clifford Lobo, district forest officer said, "Many trees have been uprooted in Udupi, Ambalpady, Udyavar and in Brahmavar areas. We have started work to move the uprooted trees. A huge banyan tree has been uprooted in Udyavar. By evening, everything will be restored to normalcy. We have cut down trees about which we had received complaints. But we cannot predict anything during such a heavy rain."

Lalaji Mendon, MLA of Kaup constituency congratulated the people for their efforts in rain-damaged areas and said, "We will soon form a task force to meet such emergencies. Very soon, electricity supply will be rearranged. We will inform the public about fragile trees which are likely to uproot any time."

Uprooting of trees have also been reported from Ambalpady region too.

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