Cloudy skies and intermittent showers in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi

Mangaluru/Udupi: The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi experienced cloudy weather and intermittent light rain on Saturday. The sky remained overcast from the morning, obscuring the sun for most of the day. By evening, moderate rain was reported in several areas. Udupi district saw significant damage on Friday night, with 26 houses affected.

Weather Alerts and Forecasts

An “Orange Alert” is in effect until Sunday morning. Post this period, no alerts have been issued. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), light to moderate rain is expected in many parts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in the coming days.

Significant Temperature Drop

Mangalore recorded a significant drop in maximum temperature at 27.8°C, which is 5.5°C below the normal. The minimum temperature also decreased, recorded at 23.2°C, 1.8°C below the usual.

Cyclone in the Bay of Bengal

The cyclone ‘Remal’ in the Bay of Bengal has intensified and is moving northwards towards the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal, the IMD said.

Heavy Rainfall and Flooding in Mangaluru

Heavy rain in Mangaluru on Friday night led to flooding in several low-lying areas. Starting at 9 PM, the downpour continued late into the night, inundating major roads and highways and disrupting vehicular movement. The Kottara Chowki area was particularly affected, with over 20 houses and shops flooded.

Wall Collapse in Ullal

In Ullal, a compound wall near Yenepoya Hospital in Deralakatte collapsed on Saturday evening, damaging two cars and a handcart. Continuous rain had weakened the old wall, causing it to collapse. A vendor expressed distress over the complete destruction of his newly purchased handcart, worth Rs. 15,000.

Flood Damage in Udupi District

Heavy rain from late Friday night to early Saturday morning caused widespread damage in Udupi district. Areas like Udupi and Kaup experienced significant rainfall, leading to artificial flooding in low-lying urban and rural areas. A wall near the old bus stand in Udupi collapsed, damaging three vehicles.

Increased Inflow in Swarna River

The Swarna River, which supplies water to Udupi, saw an increase in inflow. Several areas including Nitte, Kattingeri, Mallaru, Shirva,  Byndoor, Yedthare, Padubidri, and Molahalli experienced heavy rain, resulting in damage to more than 26 houses due to fallen trees. Light rain throughout Saturday helped reduce the extent of artificial flooding.

Damage to Electricity Infrastructure

The storm on Friday night damaged over 200 electricity poles, transformers, and 3 km of power lines in Udupi district. Power was restored by Saturday morning in affected areas such as Manipal, Gundibail, Doddanagudde, Malpe, and Kaup.

Flooding Near Puthige Bridge

Heavy rain on Friday night caused significant water accumulation around the Puthige Bridge on the national highway in Hebri, making the area resemble a lake. Inadequate drainage during the construction of the new bridge and roadwork contributed to the waterlogging. A retaining wall is on the verge of collapse, and the soil dumped in the river for construction has caused siltation. Continued rain poses a significant risk, warned social worker Sridhar Shetty.