Strong winds, harsher sea waves accentuate 'super-moon' effect

[email protected] (CD Network)
June 26, 2013
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Mangalore, Jun 26: Strong winds and harsher sea waves have been accentuating the 'super-moon' effect in areas of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod districts.

Sea erosions in the coastal belt got severe as a result. Traditional fishermen could not venture into the sea and those who did, had to return following their inability to sail any further owing to the harsh waves. Scenes of sea waves thrashing the shoreline with high intensity at Panambur beach were on display as well.

Trees have been uprooted in many places and electricity supply has received a blow too.

Sea erosions were reported from areas of Ullal in Mangalore, Someshwara, Uchila, Mukkacheri, Sasihitlu, Katpadi and Mattukopla. In the neighbouring Kasaragod district of Kerala, a house belonging to one Kartaayini has been washed away by the sea. Areas from where sea erosion was reported include Manjeshwar, Kanvateertha, Uppala Sharadanagara, Cherangai, Mogral Puttur, Adkattabail Kadappura, Light House, Kasaba Kadappura, Keeyuru, Kotikulam, Trikkannad, Kannangad and Ajanur. A house belonging to Narayaani near Poyinachi Karicheri bridge collapsed due to heavy rains and the inmates of the house had a narrow escape, it is reported.

Kasargod

Though there was a brief respite from the rain lashing northern Kerala on Tuesday, people living along the coastline of the district continue to live in fear and agony with unabated sea erosion battering several stretches of the coast.

In two separate incidents, two fishermen who ventured into the rough sea were reported dead in the last couple of days after their fibre boat capsized in heavy waves off the Bekal beach.

The sea continued to be rough along the beaches of Kasaba, Kavugoli, Bekal, Cherangai, Mogral, Valiyaparamba Koppal near Uduma, and Thrikkarippur on Tuesday, washing off roads and destroying plants and tress. The sea erosion has triggered panic among the residents, who are already reeling under the impact of the trawling ban now in force.

Reports reaching here said the house of Karthiayani, a resident of the Kasaba beach, was destroyed after sea waters gushed into it on Monday night. Around 35 houses on the Kavugoli beach are facing the wrath of the rough sea. A section of fishermen have sought official intervention to shift them to safer places.

Around 1.5 km of road connecting the Cherangai-Kavugoli beaches was washed away in sea water since Monday. Several coconut palms and other trees were uprooted.

The affected families seek construction of additional sea wall and reinforcement of existing ones in beach areas facing sea erosion. Quite a few of the sea walls got scattered under the impact of mighty waves on the Mogral beach recently.

P. Karunakaran, MP, visited the Lighthouse beach here on Tuesday to assess the gravity of the situation.

According to official sources, 51 persons sustained minor injuries in rain- related calamities and standing crops in 7.5 hectares of land got damaged in the district. Eight houses suffered partial damage since Monday.

District Collector P.S. Mohammed sager said two families from Kasaba beach had been shifted to the tsunami housing colony at Beerandabayal. Senior officials visited the affected area to assess the situation, the Collector added.

What is a super-moon?

The average distance between earth and the moon is 3.84 lakh kilometers but on some occasions, the distance shrinks to 3.56 lakh kilometers while on some occasions it increases to 4.05 lakh kilometers. When the distance between earth and moon shrinks to 3.56 lakh kilometers, the moon appears closer and bigger in size. This is called 'Super Moon', says Dr. A P Bhat, Head of Physics Department, Poornaprajna College, Udupi.

Last Sunday, June 23, was a 'super-moon' day, as the closest and largest full moon of the year and the Moon's closest encounter with Earth for all of 2013.

On this day, sea waves get harsher. The wind from the western side was harsher in Malpe beach. This is a feature during full moon days, says Gopal Kunder, Presiden,. Malpe Deep Sea Fishing Boat Owners' Association.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

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

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 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•    Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•    Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•    Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•    Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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