Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 20:  The entire coastal belt from Shirur to Kasargod experienced rains of different intensities on Tuesday night and Wednesday May 19. Electricity failure has been a common complaint from most of these places.

A youth died and seven others suffered injuries due to lightning on the night of Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Rama Kharvi (25), a resident of Navunda Jogumane. He was sleeping in a building near Navunda seashore along with seven others, when lightning struck. The others, Gopal Kharvi (25), Girish Kharvi (24), Hitesh Kharvi (16), Shekhar Kharvi (26), Shankar Kharvi (28), Vishwanath Kharvi (17) and Prakash Kharvi (22), suffered shock. All of them were admitted to a private hospital in Kundapur. Over 15 houses near Kody Chakramma Temple in Kundapur were damaged due to speeding winds, as trees got uprooted on the houses, electric poles fell and roofs were blown away.

Karkala, Sullia, Bantwal, Kinnigoly, Uchchila, Katpady, Subrahmanya etc., received good rains on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Traffic on state highway between Mulky and Kinnigoly came to a standstill due to a fallen tree. The road was opened for traffic in the afternoon. Several banana trees were uprooted and tiles flew away due to strong wind that blew across the coast at night. Water entered several buildings located near the drains including rural police station in the city at Kankanady. If the rains continue, several areas in the city are likely to get flooded because of the fact that ongoing road widening works have blocked free flow of water and drains have been clogged.

As the sea has become choppy, fishermen have returned to their bases. Over 500 boats were seen moored at Malpe beach. The meteorological department had warned fishermen not to venture into the sea on Tuesday and Wednesday. The department has predicted more rains in the next two days.