Mangalore, Jul 14: The heavy rain that has been lashing Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts since the past couple of days has resulted in water logging at several places while also intensifying the problem of sea erosion.
Artificial flood like situation has arisen in The low-lying areas in the City like Jeppinamogaru, Kodialbail, Ballalbhagh, Kottara Chowki, Malemar, Kodikkal, parts of Pandeshwar, Attavar, parts of Surathkal. Vehicular traffic was also obstructed on the Bajal road and the Kulai-Bailare road that were water logged.
Meanwhile, sea erosion at Koorikatta, Kulai, Hosabettu, Mukka, Sasihitlu and other places has intensified. The road nearby is facing fears of being washed away. The residents are forced to live with fear of flood water entering the houses.
The rain wreaked havoc on the electricity supply systems in Dakshina Kannada with nearly 250 poles reported damaged and one sub-station inundated.
Complaints of frequent power shutdowns and uprooted trees flooded Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) Control room (1917). More than 300 calls were recorded through Sunday.
The Master Unit Sub-Station (MUSS) in Panambur was shut throughout the day after rainwater from National Highway 66 (Mangalore to Mumbai) started to flow into it. The station was shut in the early hours, affecting power supply to Kottara, Bengre, Kuntikana and other areas.
“Rainwater flooding is an annual problem; but this time, it has become worse due to the construction of a garden on the highway by New Mangalore Port Trust. As the garden and the roads are at a high level, water flows through the sub-station,” a Mescom official said and added that even emergency services personnel could not pump out the water.
With the sub-station shut down, officials struggled to maintain voltage and constant supply through an alternative line.
A tree fell on a high tension line at Jeppinamogeru, breaking three poles and disrupting power in South Mangalore. Mescom engineers said that 50 poles have fallen in Mangalore city and taluk areas; 48 in Bantwal; 60 in Belthangady; 45 in Puttur; and, nearly 40 in Sullia. Though 15 additional linemen were deputed to each one of the 18 sub-divisions in the district, officials said that the linemen on duty struggled to attend to the rising number of complaints.
Markanja in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district recorded maximum rainfall of 253.5mm in Karnataka in the last 24-hours up to 8.30am on July 13.
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