Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 28: After a brief lull, rains intensified in Dakshina Kannada district on Saturday. Accompanied by strong winds in rural areas, the downpour uprooted trees and caused damage to crops. Power supply was disrupted in parts of Sullia taluk, while Navaratri celebrations faced hurdles at several locations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning to fishermen not to venture into the sea as winds along the Karnataka coast are expected to reach speeds of 50–60 kmph on Sunday. According to the IMD, the Arabian Sea will remain turbulent with heavy rains and strong winds until September 28.

 

In Mangaluru city and along National Highway 66, heavy traffic congestion was reported from Saturday afternoon until late at night. Vehicles moved slowly as the patchwork laid on the highway a week ago had worn off, exposing potholes once again. The rains, coupled with the arrival of large numbers of visitors for Mangaluru Dasara, further worsened traffic snarls within the city.

A depression has formed over the Bay of Bengal near the Odisha coast, though the exact movement path of the system remains unclear. As a result, rainfall activity has picked up, and scattered showers are likely across Karnataka for a week, the weather department said.

The system is expected to move into Maharashtra on September 28 and approach the Mumbai coast on September 29–30. This could bring widespread rains from Mumbai down to the Kerala coast. IMD scientists have indicated that with the weakening of monsoon showers in the third week of September, the retreating monsoon is likely to commence soon.