Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, June 18: The monsoon continues to wreak havoc across Dakshina Kannada district, with 82 houses reported fully damaged and 705 partially damaged so far this season.
District in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao chaired a review meeting on disaster management and the ongoing heavy rainfall situation in the district.
The district recorded 55.7 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours, significantly higher than the average of 38.4 mm for the same period.
According to official data, compensation of Rs 1.2 lac has been provided to each of the 82 families whose houses were completely damaged. Among the 705 partially damaged houses, payments have already been disbursed to 677 households.
In terms of taluk-wise distribution, Bantwal reported 108 partially damaged houses, Puttur 125 (with compensation paid for 101), and Beltangady 129.
The minister instructed the Puttur tahsildar to release the pending compensation to the remaining 24 households within a day, warning that failure to do so would result in strict action.
The district has recorded five rain-related deaths so far, with compensation paid to the families of all deceased.
Between April and the end of May, 2.43 hectares of agricultural land and 4.884 hectares of horticultural land have been damaged.
In Mescom limits, 707 electric poles were damaged—most of them in Belthangady and Sullia, where trees fell on the lines. A total of 31 transformer centres were also affected but have since been restored.
The rains have damaged nine bridges on national highways and 13 on state highways, some of which have been closed to vehicular movement.
Deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan directed officials to take precautionary measures, especially in areas of Sullia and Beltangady where people are forced to cross streams.
Under the Panchayat Raj department, 23 of 37 bridges have been fully damaged. Additionally, 145 government buildings and primary schools, as well as 60 anganwadis and other community properties, have suffered damages.
A proposal of Rs 100 crore has been submitted to the government for landslide-related issues, while Rs 27 crore has been sanctioned for 36 works, including the construction of retaining walls.
Further, 34 private compound walls have collapsed, and 92 private lands have been reported damaged.
Referring to the Kettikal landslide, DC Mullai Muhilan said, “The hill had been cut steeply. Though NHAI had constructed a retaining wall in parts, it could not withstand the pressure and collapsed.”
The minister directed NHAI officials to include preventive measures for such terrains in their DPRs, rather than waiting for disasters to happen.
In response, NHAI officials stated that the region was technically complex, with cracks developing every 2–3 years. They assured that steps were being taken to address the issue.
The DC informed that lights have been installed and police deployed at night in the Kettikal region for safety.
Officials also said sufficient funds were available to tackle the monsoon and preventive measures were already in place. As many as 1,992 houses have been identified as vulnerable, and residents will be asked to shift during red alerts.
A total of 181 bridges have been marked with closure signs and warning boards.
Regarding the Panemangalore old bridge, minister Dinesh Gundu Rao instructed that a stability report be obtained to determine its viability for vehicular movement. “This should not be delayed. Call in experts. The old steel bridge must be restricted to light vehicles only, and an arc has already been installed to prevent heavy vehicles from entering,” he said.
The district is currently under a yellow alert for the next 24 hours. No further weather warnings have been issued for the next five days.