Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (MB)

Puttur, Jul 8: Kumaradhara and Hosmath are the bridges linking the rual southeastern parts of the district with Mangalore. It has been common for them to be submerged during rains.

What normally happens in the middle of July has already taken place on Saturday. As a result of incessant rains on Friday around Subrahmanya and the adjoining Western Ghat areas, the Kumaradhara river was in full spate.

By 5 am on Saturday, the Kumaradhara bridge went under water. Buses to and from Subramanya to Mangalore and Bangalore took the circuitous Panja-Puttur routes.

The police have put up makeshift bamboo barricades on either side of the bridge as a safeguard measure, besides partolling the area. By Saturday afternoon, when the rains abated, traffic was resumed but chances of recurrence were high because of the signs of persistent rains later during the day.

The Hosmath bridge near Kadaba too went under water on Saturday. Traffic on the state highway between Uppinangady and Subrahmanya was affected. The bridge remained submerged for over 24 hours between Friday night and Saturday night.

Daily commuters and students had to return home from Hosmath. People travelling to Mangalore had to take recourse to Edamangala, Kaniyoor and Savanoor routes.

Memories are fresh in the minds of the public of a mishap on the bridge around this time last year, in which a cement-laden lorry tried to cross bridge in its submerged state and was washed away by the river currents. Four persons had lost their lives in the incident.

Keeping this in mind, the revenue and police officials have ensured a constant guard at the spot. Earlier during the day (Saturday) water level above the bridge was 4.5 ft. Although it subsided a while later, it rose again later.