Last year too much rain; this year none!

Mangaluru: Last year on May 29^th, the coastal city of Mangaluru received record amount of rain in a very short span of time pushing its resident’s lives out of gear. But this, the district’s environment is closer to a desert with Dakshina Kannada district being added to the list of districts in the state which have received the least amount of rainfall.

Last time on May 29^th, the city received 360mm of rainfall within 24 hours and created a record for highest rainfall in a single day here. The rain had cut off the prominent national highway connecting with the city. Pumpwell junction along NH 66, railway underpass along NH 75 at Padil and the over bridge at Kottara Chowki were inundated because of the rain preventing vehicles from neither entering nor leaving the city, thereby effectively cutting off connection with the city.

Those who had left in buses and cars were unable to go onward with their journey nor return back and ended up spending hours together in their vehicles. The 6 hours long rain not only inflicted total damages worth Rs 20.74 crore but also claimed two lives. Overall the city fell silent because of the torrential rains.

It was assumed that this time too, Dakshina Kannada district would receive good pre-monsoon showers. But its disappointing. Last time, 360mm of rain occurred in a single day, but this time, in terms of the pre-monsoon showers cycle from March 1^st tot May 29^th, only 83.2mm rain has occurred.

Lack of pre-monsoon showers

In comparison to DK district, Mangaluru city had received more amount of rainfall. But this time, only Mangaluru city has received the least amount of pre-monsoon rainfall in the entire district. If the stats from March to May 29^th are to be considered, the city is facing a lack of rainfall by 80%. The second places goes to Bantwal taluk with 69%, Puttur with 59%, Belthangady with 53% and Sullia taluk facing a pre-monsoon rainfall shortage of 38%.

Only drizzling this time

Last year on May 29^th, heavy rains started in the city from the morning itself. With the passing time, the amount of rain also increased. This time on May 20^th, the sky was dressed cloudy, but it only drizzled a little at 8:15am in the morning.

Normal rain possible

“Since there is surface storm in the hinterlands of the south, normal rain may occur at a few places in Dakshina Kannada as well as along the coast. Currently the temperatures are higher than normal and may continue in the same fashion,” informed Shrinivas Reddy, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) Director