Mangalore (TNN): The incessant downpour on Thursday and Friday is reminding the old generation residents about the 1974 floods which devastated the Uppinangady town on July 25, 26.
The intensity was such that the district received 127 mm of rain fall in the last 24-hours up to 8.30am on Friday, whereas on the same day last year the rainfall was just 23mm.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner Muddu Mohan has declared holiday to all schools and colleges in the district on August 2 in view of heavy rains lashing accompanied by high winds lashing the district since July 31, spawning fears of flash floods.
Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim declared holiday for only schools in Dakshina Kannada district on Saturday. Colleges will functional as usual.
The rains have already cut off access to Subrahmanya from Bangalore, Dharmasthala and Mangalore via Uppinangady as two the bridges on these still remain submerged. The only access to Subrahmanya is by the longer Puttur-Panja and Sullia route.
Sources in Subrahmanya said more than the rains in Subrahmanya taluk, the rains in the ghats was posing them a problem and the deluge had submerged the two bridges.
In Bantwal, the water level at Nethravathi River at Bantwal was at 8 mts, half a metre shy of the danger level. Many houses in low lying area were in knee deep water in Bantwal. Friday and they had to move out of their house with belongings. In Many placers there was water logging on the roads in Bantwal. Also, a hillock caved in at Kallagudde near Bantwal due to heavy rains.
In the last 24 hours till 8.30am, the district received almost in excess of 100mm of rainfall. While Mangalore taluk received 120.3mm, Bantwal (118 mm), Puttur (135 mm), Sullia (112.4mm), Belthangady (148.8mm), Uppinangady (138.2mm), Kadaba (123.4mm) and Moodabidri received 172.4mm of rainfall.
Meanwhile, Met Department warned fishermen not to venture into sea citing that strong onshore winds from south-westerly to Westerly direction speed occasionally reaching 45 to 55 kmph were likely along and off Karnataka coast during next 24 hours.
Udupi: Various parts of Udupi district have been receiving incessant rain since Thursday evening. Amasebail in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district recorded maximum rainfall of 232mm in Karnataka in the last 24-hours up to 8.30am on August 1.
Rain continued to pour on Thursday overnight and gave some hours break on Friday morning. But rain continued in many places of Udupi, Manipal, Kundapur and Karkala. Those who were visiting to offer a pooja at nearby Nagabanas on account of Nagarapanchami on Friday, had a relief from rain till noon. Ashok from Bagalakot who sold bananas near service bus stand said Thursday's rain had affected his business, but Friday he had many customers. ''I sell other fruits like apple, orange usually, but due to Nagarapanchami I decided to sell only banana. But the rain spoiled my two days of business'' he said. Keerthi Baliga, a home maker in Ashirvad near Santhekatte said that she had a good time as her two kids stayed at home to celebrate Nagarapanchami on this rainy day. ''we are planning to visit temples in the evening if rain gives a break for few hours'' she said. Ravi Kumar, a resident of Malpe said that rain usually brings happiness, and said that there were less reports of rain damages in Udupi this year compared to previous year. ''I hope rain god has blessed this region as earlier people feared of rain deficit'' he said.
According to the rain monitoring cell at the DC's office in Rajathadri, Udupi taluk received 145.20 mm rain in the last 24 hours ending at 8 am on Friday. Karkala received 172.05 mm rain and Kundapur received 180.60 mm rain. Due to heavy rains accompanied by strong wind, several houses were damaged. Sheri Mogarthi's house in Japthi near Byndoor was damaged partially on Friday. Another house in Byndoor belonging to Mahabala Sherigar was also damaged. The estimated loss is Rs 40,000. Six houses in Miyar in Karkala were partially damaged. People in eight houses near Bavalikudru, Neelavara were stranded after rain inundated thee area. The residents complained that officials did not come to their rescue on time.
