Strong winds from the Arabian Sea have obstructed the natural flow of the river towards the sea, heightening concerns among locals, particularly affecting school children worried about disruptions to their education.
Inadequate drainage infrastructure along the Karavali bypass has caused artificial flooding, with rainwater pooling on roads, inconveniencing commuters.
Residents, such as those in Bolje, have voiced grievances over aging infrastructure like a 37-year-old bridge in need of repairs. Despite appeals to local authorities such as the village panchayat and MLA, no action has been taken. This neglect of basic facilities, including roads and street lights, poses significant challenges, especially during the rainy season.
"The bridge is 37 years old and requires repairs," a resident of Bolje expressed. "Despite appeals to the village panchayat and MLA, we have not received any response. The lack of basic facilities like roads and street lights poses significant challenges, especially for students commuting during the rain. We request the MLA and other officials to address our concerns promptly."
Local resident Jayaram Thingalaya voiced his concern, "Every year during monsoon we face this, sometimes water flows inside our house. During the construction of bridges they fill the river with soil to block the force of the river, but after the construction of the bridge the soil is left unattended, as a result the region floods during heavy rain."
Nithin from Matada Kudru stated, "Every year during monsoon the Papanashini River overflows and floods the region nearby. Due to heavy rain in Karkala and Dharmasthala for the last two days, the River overflowed. If the rain continues, then there will be a need to shift people residing here to other regions."
Abhinandan from Udyavar described the current situation, "Boats are being used for transportation due to frequent flooding caused by the rising water of the Papanashini River. There as many as 23 house and cows are shifted through boat from Admaru math to safe place."
The community urgently calls for officials to address these concerns promptly to mitigate the impact of recurrent river overflow during the monsoon season, which threatens homes and disrupts daily life in affected areas.