As the south west monsoon reached Karnataka earlier than usual, Mangaluru and its surrounding areas are receiving heavy rains since Monday night. After a some respite during the early hours of Tuesday, rains continue unabated since 9:30 am.
Several low-lying areas in the city, including Kottara Chowki and Ballal Bagh, witnessed waterlogging on the first day of the season.
The circulating area at Mangaluru Central Railway Station and the adjacent Railway Mail Service office was completely inundated with rainwater and overflowing sewage.
Pumpwell Circle, the major junction of NH 66 and 75 remained in knee-deep water obstructing vehicular movement. Almost all major junctions inside the city too are submerged in water interrupting vehicular movement.
The normal life in the city took a beating as the Mangaluru City Corporation hardly undertook any measures to clear drains.
Since Mangaluru sits next to the Arabian Sea, high tide is preventing rainwater from draining out to the sea, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil told The Hindu. The administration is attending to problems at the affected areas, he added.
The Indian Meterological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over coastal Karnataka for the next five days.
The Dakshina Kannada administration has declared holiday for educational institutions on Wednesday.
