Pics: Spoorthi Ullal / Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
With Additional Pics from Austin Pais
Mangaluru, Jul 19: Several areas in the city have been inundated due to torrential rains over the past few days. On Sunday July 19, it poured heavily for several hours, causing floods in low-lying areas.
Areas like Subhashnagar, Kottara Chowki, Malemar and many others were flooded, causing much inconvenience to residents and commuters. In BC Road, a tree fell on a car and severely injured the driver. At Indirapur in Yekkur, a wall of a house collapsed causing much damage.
In Pandeshwar, places like Sri Rama garage and quarters of Geological Survey of India were water-logged while in Kottara Chowki junction, water entered as many as 18 shops and some houses.
Speaking to daijiworld, Subhashnagar corporator Lateef said, "This area also comes under the charge corporator Premanand Shetty. Everyone's support is required to solve the problem. Mainly the paddy fields have been submerged, and this problem occurs every year. Around 6 or 7 houses have been flood in Subhashnagar area."
MCC system engineer Suresh said, "The main drain at Subhashnagar is at sea level, so the rain water does not flow into the sea and hence overflows."
Corporator Premanand Shetty said, "The main drain is connected to the river mouth and the area floods during heavy rain and wind. To overcome this problem the pipleline should be changed and a 8 mt pipe should be fixed in order to reduce the floods. It is mainly in the low lying area where the water stagnates."
The locals meanwhile are having a tough time coping up with the situation.
Mukhtar, a resident of Subhashnagar told daijiworld, "This problem has been there from past 20 years and despite submitting memorandums and complaining to the corporation a number a times, no measure has been taken to tackle the situation. They (officials and corporators) just come here, watch, enjoy and go. We are suffering from the past 20 years but no one is bothered."
Kasargod
Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network- Kasargod (RJP)
Kasargod, Jul 19: Due to the heavy rains for the past two days, normal life has been thrown out of gear for the people of Kasargod district.
Low-lying areas have been flooded and road connectivity between places has been totally affected.
Roads at Talangare, Adkathabail, Pullur, Adoor, Chemnad have been flooded. All the streams and rivers in the region are overflowing. Landslides have been reported in a few places. The houses on the river bank are not safe anymore as it is a matter of time before rainwater plays havoc. Due to a tree fallen on the road, traffic between Kumble and Bandiyod was affected for some time.
District collector P S Muhammed Sagir has declared Monday as a holiday for all educational institutions in the district including the CBSE and technical institutions. Wind is expected to blow at a speed of 50 to 55 kilometres per hour and fisher folk have been told to keep off the sea.
In addition to the heavy rains already experienced, report from the meteorological department states that rains will continue till Thursday July 23. Around 7 to 12 centimetres of rains are anticipated, the department says.
The district administration has urged people to take sufficient measures to avoid calamities.
Bhatkal
Heavy rains also lashed Bhatkal and caused loss of life and property. Zulfique (25), a resident of Ghausiya street drowned after accidentally falling into an overflowing stream. At another place, a bridge collapsed and many main roads were flooded. Several areas were inundated and water entered a number of houses and shops.
Compound walls of houses collapsed at Maghdoom colony and Yalwadikavoor, injuring a persons identified as Mohammed Meera Abdul Ghani, son of Sadiq and Shameem. With the roads flooded, commuters had a tough time and traffic was badly hit. On Sunday alone, more than 100 mm of rain lashed Bhatkal and surrounding areas.