Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 10: As the incessant rains changed into intermittent showers in the twin-districts and the floods have started to recede, losses to property and agriculture are coming into the fore. Udupi district accounted for a loss of life on Thursday July 9.

Jagadish Devadiga (19), son of Shankar Devadiga from Uppinakudru near Kundapur was electrocuted while working near his home. There are contrasting reports about the cause of his death. While revenue department officials said he was electrocuted, some other sources said he died of lightning. Only the post mortem report might be able to throw light on this aspect.

The overseeing committee went through various villages and requested people living in low-lying areas, to shift to higher altitudes, in view of the warning that the rain intensity would worsen. Many went to the houses of friends and relatives accordingly, but the rains did not catch intensity as expected. Large tracts of agricultural lands in Udupi, Karkala and Kundapur taluks remain submerged.

In Uttara Kannada district, gruel centres were opened and 800 people were shifted to safer places due to the overflowing rivers and rivulets. Agricultural department officials said that about 40 acres of paddy seedlings planted in the fields around Honnavar got rotted, as they remained under water for long. Kodagu also received very heavy rains, the intensity being heavy in Madikeri, Bhagamandala, Talacauvery and Virajpet.  Harangi reservoir in Kodagu district recorded heavy inflow and touched 2828 ft as against the maximum level 2859 ft. Last year, the water level in this dam stood at 2844 ft at this time. Linganamakki reservoir too has been receiving good inflow and touched 1767 ft.

The flood in the low lying areas of the city too eased with the reduced rains. Primary and high schools in Shimoga, Kodagu and Chikmagalur districts will remain closed on Friday July 10 and Saturday. Schools in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts will reopen today after a three-day holiday. The power to declare holidays depending on the intensity of rains has been delegated to the block education officers.

Meanwhile, meteorological department has predicted heavy rains during the next two days.