The Hindu : Karnataka News : Heavy rain forces schools in Udupi, Mangalore districts to close

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Tuesday, Jul 07, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Heavy rain forces schools in Udupi, Mangalore districts to close

Staff Correspondent

48 houses damaged in Udupi, 30 in Mangalore taluk, crops destroyed

No reports of casualty or damage to property
in Kodagu
Residents say neglect in clearing out drains is the reason for flooding of houses

Inundated: A resident bailing out water from his flooded house in Mathura Chatra area in Udupi and (right) a car being driven through knee-deep water in Subhashnagar near Pandeshwar in Mangalore on Monday.

MANGALORE/UDUPI/MadikerI: Rain in Coastal Karnataka on Monday damaged houses, caused water-logging in residential areas and inundated paddy fields. In anticipation of further rainfall, all schools in Dakshina Kannada will remain closed today in view of heavy rainfall. In Belthangady taluk, schools will remain closed on Wednesday too, according to the Deputy Director of Public Instruction C. Chame Gowda.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Gowda said, “The tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of 11 children in Ulaibettu last monsoon prompted us to take this preemptive measure.”

In the last 24 hours ending 8 a.m. on Monday, Bantwal taluk received the maximum rainfall of 115 millimetres. Belthangady taluk received 102.4 mm, Mangalore taluk 98.2 mm, Uppinangady 93 mm, Bajpe Airport 88.2 mm and Sullia taluk 59.2 mm.

The water level in Netravati river at Bantwal rose from 4.8 m on Sunday to 5.5 metres on Monday. The danger level is 8.5 m.

Damage

The rain has reportedly caused widespread damage to property and crops in the district. However, the district administration has managed to collect preliminary damage reports only from Mangalore taluk where over 30 houses have been partially damaged by the rain in the last 48 hours until Monday; the financial loss is yet to be calculated.

The Hindu received frantic calls from residents of Subhashnagar near Pandeshawar, Kottara Chowki, Morgansgate and Attavara, with complaints of overflowing drains, clogged roads and damaged electricity supply cables.

The residents of Subhashnagar seemed particularly upset over the flooding and water-logging. There were reports from residents of Attavara that the storm water drain near KMC Hospital had overflowed resulting in “waist-deep water” in the interior roads.

By noon, however, the water had receded somewhat.

Trees were uprooted in Kankanady Circle and along the newly-laid four-lane road that connects Kankanady to Mahaveera (earlier Pumpwell) Circle. Traffic on the Mahaveera Circle-Kankanady Road was diverted.

Udupi

But it is Udupi district which has been hit the hardest so far. Heavy rain damaged 48 houses in the district on Monday. There was flooding in the low-lying areas of Udupi city and in other parts of the district. The district administration announced holiday for primary and high schools on Tuesday and Wednesday on expectation of more rain.

Boats were pressed into service to rescue people from their houses. Some families were lodged at Mathura Chatra. the Krishna Math provided food to families in the area.

Most of the flooding has been caused by the clogging of drains. Two fire engines pumped out water from the basement of two multi-storied buildings. The ground floor of the zilla panchayat was also flooded.

Residents of Mathura Chatra were upset over official apathy. Manjunath, a resident, said that rainwater had entered his house at 3.30 a.m. Though he called the Control Room, there was no response. Then he called Home Minister V.S. Acharya, who finally made arrangements for evacuating people. “All this is due to neglect in desilting the Kalsanka drain,” he alleged.

Sridhar, another resident, said there was neck-deep water in 25 houses. “This is the worst flooding since 1983,” he said.

In a meeting held here, in-charge Deputy Commissioner Prasanna Kumar directed the officers to clear all clogged drains in the city and in the towns of Kundapur, Karkala and Saligrama in the district. The administration had kept boats and expert divers on standby to meet exigencies. “Ganji Kendras” will be opened, Mr. Kumar said.

According to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, of the 48 houses damaged in the district, 13 are in Udupi taluk, 19 in Kundapur taluk and 16 in Karkala taluk.

Udupi district received an average rainfall of 174.2 mm in the last 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Monday.

The rainfall received in the three taluks is: Udupi – 203.6 mm, Kundapur – 84.80 mm and Karkala – 234 mm.

Rain had, however, slackened in Kodagu since Sunday night even though river Cauvery threatened to cross the danger limits in several places. However, no reports of casualty or damage to property have been received so far.

Kodagu situation

Cauvery river water has inundated a large expanse of paddy fields close to Bhagamandala and Cherambane, while the Laskhmanateerta is rising in southern parts of the district.

Kadnur river near Virajpet has also flooded paddy fields, according to reports. Water had receded at Triveni Sangama at Bhagamandala and people were seen wading across the river to reach their houses.

A boat has been pressed into service by the district administration.

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