Prayers offered in temples, church, mosque for rain in Udupi

[email protected] (CD Network)
May 14, 2016

Udupi, May 14: With a major water crisis looming Udupi district, special prayers were offered at temples, a mosque and a church seeking rain.

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The water level at Baje Dam across the Swarna, which provides drinking water to Udupi city, was down to 2.15 metres on Friday. This, despite the fact that the city had received brief spells of rainfall on May 11 and 12.

Municipal councillors and officials, led by MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, offered prayers to propitiate the rain god. The team first visited the Jamia Masjid. The prayers were offered by Maulana Rashid Ahmed Nadvi, Khatib, at the mosque. “There should be rain and prosperity throughout the country,” he said.

After the mosque, the team visited the Chandramouleshwara Temple, Ananteshwara Temple and Krishna Mutt/Temple. Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt, who joined the team in their prayers, said that it should rain not just in Udupi city but for the entire State and parts of the country, which were facing drought.

The team then went to the Mother of Sorrows Church to offer prayers. Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Catholic Diocese, said that there could be no life without water. It was not just human beings, even animals suffered without water. “God is most merciful. Let God bless the country with plentiful rain,” he said.

Later speaking to presspersons, Mr. Madhwaraj said that there had been no scarcity of drinking water in the last three years. But if water in the Baje Dam receded from the present level, the city would suffer from water scarcity.

“Hence, we decided to pray at a mosque, a temple and a church and pray to god seeking rain in the catchment area. Providing rain is all in the hands of god. Elected representatives cannot do much about it, except pray,” he said.

Meenakshi Bannanje, president of the Udupi City Municipal Council, and Sandhya Kumari, vice-president, were present.

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PONDER
 - 
Saturday, 14 May 2016

Scientists have studied cloud types and have realized that RAIN clouds are formed and shaped acc to definite system and certain steps connected with certain types of wind & clouds.

One kind of rain cloud is the cumulonimbus cloud. Meteorologists have studied how cumulonimbus clouds are formed and they produce RAIN, hail and lighting.
Cumulonimbus clouds begin to form when wind pushes some small pieces of clouds to an area where these clouds converge.
Stacking : When the small clouds joins together, updrafts within the larger cloud increase. The updrafts near the center of the clouds are stronger than those near the edges. These updrafts cause the cloud body to grow vertically, so the cloud is stacked up. This vertical growth causes the cloud body to stretch into cooler regions of the atmosphere, where drops of water and hail formulate and begins to grow larger and larger. When these drops of water and hail become too heavy for the updrafts to support them. they begin to fall the cloud as rain, hail, etc.

*GOD has said in the QURAN : Have you not seen how GOD makes the CLOUDS move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a stake, and then YOU see the rain come out of it - QURAN 24:43*

Meteorologists have only recently come to know these details of cloud formation, structure and function by using advanced equipments like Planes, satellites, computers, balloons and other.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 16,2025

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Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. 

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