Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, May 21: The rainfall along with thunder and lightning experienced on Sunday night and Monday morning brought cheers to the people of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. They got some respite from heat and were a little bit relieved at the prospect of the situation on water shortage front getting addressed at least to some extent.
Many areas of Dakshina Kannada district including Kadaba, Sullia, Bantwal, Puttur, Beltangady, Moodbidri received rainfall. The wall of the house belonging to Jaison at second block at Katipalla developed cracks due to lightning which struck on Monday morning. The houses of Usha Bhaskar residing near Tadambail, Suratkal, and Radhamma from Kenjila Bandasale in Ira village were damaged extensively due to lightning. However, people inside the houses escaped unscathed.
The meteorological department has predicted rainfall in the coastal areas and Malnad for three more days. The temperature in the coast, which was thee percent higher than normal on Sunday, fell down considerably. On Monday, Mangaluru recorded highest temperature of 34 degree Celsius and lowest of 24 degree.
Many parts of Udupi district including Byndoor, Padubidri, Kaup, Katapady, Karkala, Brahmavar and Udupi got rain. Areas like Siddapur and Hebri experienced heightened levels of thunder and lightning.
Kasargod district also got good rainfall. Many houses were damaged due to lightning. Kamala (55), wife of Lakshman Naik from Bajakoodlu in Perla fell unconscious after having been struck by lightning. She was admitted into a private hospital at Perla. A tree, pump set of the well of her house and electrical appliances suffered damages.
The people of Udupi are happy that Karkala got rainfall. They felt that the rain would result in swelling the level of water at Baje dam and thereby result in improved water supply. But officials said that the rainfall at Karkala was too meager to result in notable inflow into the dam.
Chikkamagaluru received five cm of rain during the 24 hours period ended 8.30 am on Monday, which was the highest in the state.