Udupi, Sept 20: Relentless downpour has caused massive flooding in the coastal district of Udupi throwing normal life out of gear, with all low-lying areas under four to eight feet of water. National Disaster Response Force was called in for rescue efforts as four villages in Udupi taluk were inundated.
According to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell dashboard, up to 64.5 mm rainfall was recorded since 8.30 am of Sunday morning in several pockets of coastal region.
The District Collector has directed the citizens affected by the extreme weather to contact the emergency number 1077, to receive help from the assigned control room. The parking area at Udupi Krishna Mata and the city’s national highway routes have been completely waterlogged due to the heavy rains. Several shops and godowns in the district have been flooded.
Extreme rainfall has resulted in the sinking of 3 boats, causing heavy damages ranging in lakhs of rupees. During this ordeal, the fishermen managed to rescue themselves by seeking refuge in the rocks and boulders by the sea.
The road at Gundibail has worsened due to the rains. Udupi-Manipal main roads have deteriorated, while many shops and houses at Badagupete have experienced flooding.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa directed officials from Udupi and Bengaluru Urban district to take measures to prevent any untoward incidents. According to a release from the CMO, Yediyurappa spoke to BBMP administrator Gaurav Gupta over phone, with instructions to prevent flooding along storm water drains of the city. All officials should be available round the clock as rainfall is forecast to continue in the city, the CM said.
He spoke to Udupi DC G Jagadeesh to review the rescue efforts being carried out in the district. Udupi and other coastal districts have received very heavy rainfall over the past two days.
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters in Udupi that army helicopters will be used for rescue efforts if required. Due to heavy rainfall in the Western Ghats, rivers are in spate. Several bridges in Karkala taluk, Udupi district were washed away, he said. Efforts are on to rescue the staff at Baje Hydro Project in the district who are stranded in the flood waters.
India Meteorological Department has issued red alert for very heavy rainfall in coastal districts till Tuesday, and in Malnad districts till Monday. Extremely heavy rainfall events exceeding 204.5 mm rainfall per day is also likely in isolated parts of these districts, along with thundershowers.
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