Tuesday’s unprecedented rain has caused havoc in Dakshina Kannada district. The damage to houses and public infrastructure is estimated to be over ₹21 crore.
Contrary to the forecast of very heavy rain on Wednesday too, the rain abated to some extent, bringing relief to harried residents of Mangaluru in particular. Mangaluru alone received an average of 360 mm rainfall on Tuesday.
According to Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil, as many as 600 houses, 1,500 electricity poles, nine bridges, and 400 private buildings were damaged with Dakshina Kannada receiving average 237 mm rainfall on Tuesday. This is more than the month’s normal average rainfall of 155 mm for the district. He put the damage at around ₹17 crore for public infrastructure and ₹4 crore for houses in the district. In neighbouring Udupi district, rain accompanied by gusty winds caused the uprooting of over 1,000 electric poles and causing damage to infrastructure of over ₹2 crore.
Reiterating that high tide in the Arabian Sea aggravated waterlogging in Mangaluru city, the Deputy Commissioner said he would not hesitate to act sternly if major storm-water drains were found blocked by unscrupulous elements in the city. He announced constitution of a separate committee to look into waterlogging issues and revert within three days.
Average rainfall
While Mangaluru City received an average of 356 mm rainfall on Tuesday, Mulki and Surathkal topped the list by getting 453 mm and 422 mm respectively.
Though water receded in many parts of Mangaluru by Wednesday morning, several low-lying areas continued to remain inundated.
