Continuous heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc across Dakshina Kannada district, leading to significant flooding, infrastructure damage, and disruption of daily life. The relentless monsoon deluge has overwhelmed the region’s drainage systems and weakened structures, resulting in widespread property damage and posing serious challenges to local authorities.
On Saturday evening, a torrential downpour lasting over an hour inundated several parts of Mangaluru, including Pumpwell Circle, Kodialguthu, Kudroli, Pandeshwar, and Malemar. The city’s underground drainage systems were overwhelmed, leading to waterlogging and flooding in homes, commercial basements, and power systems. At the Mangaluru Central railway station, both the entrance and platform were submerged, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. In Kankanady and Shivabhag, collapsed retaining walls resulted in property damage, while in Dongarakeri ward, rainwater entered homes due to poor drainage, prompting intervention by local officials. The Kadri Sri Manjunatha Temple organized free lunches for affected residents, and MLA Ashok Rai assisted in clearing a blocked roadside drain near Kodimbadi school.
Rail traffic between Mangaluru and Mumbai was disrupted on Saturday evening after a landslide occurred between Padil and Jokatte railway stations on the city’s outskirts. Mud slid onto the railway tracks, halting train operations temporarily. However, swift action by railway workers ensured that one of the tracks was cleared within an hour, enabling partial movement of trains. By Sunday evening, the second track was also cleared of debris, restoring full rail traffic. Meanwhile, Bantwal taluk witnessed relentless rainfall on Sunday, leading to artificial flooding in several areas. The BC Road–Addahole highway, particularly near Surikumeri close to Mani, resembled a lake due to stagnant rainwater. Despite the road construction being completed, inadequate drainage work has caused water to accumulate on the road and enter nearby buildings, including warehouses.
In rural areas, several damage reports have surfaced. In Punchame village, a cattle shed was completely destroyed due to a hillock collapse. Landslides were also reported at Bambila in Armadi village and Manikanthapura in Kariyangala, blocking road access. In Alampuri, Kavalapaduru, a well in front of a house caved in due to the soaking soil. The overflowing Phalguni river flooded the low-lying areas of Ammunje village, stranding cattle left to graze in the floodwaters. Farmlands near Dasakodi were inundated due to road construction impeding water drainage. In response to the severe weather conditions, the Karnataka government has initiated emergency measures to mitigate the impact of the rains. Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao, directed the district administration to ensure no casualties due to rain-related damage. He emphasized proactive disaster management and instructed officials to coordinate with the National Highways Authority of India to clear debris from soil slides and restore connectivity. Rao also stressed the importance of relocating residents in waterlogged and vulnerable areas to safe rehabilitation centres and urged officials to be on-site, providing immediate relief and maintaining constant communication.
The district administration has declared holidays for all anganwadi centers and schools in several taluks of Dakshina Kannada and the Udupi district on Monday, in anticipation of continued heavy rainfall and to ensure the safety of students and staff. As the monsoon season continues, authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and prepared for further adverse weather conditions. The district administration has advised the public to stay updated on weather alerts and to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rainfall. Efforts are underway to restore normalcy and address the damage caused by the recent downpours. The situation remains fluid, and residents are encouraged to cooperate with local authorities and emergency services to navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing heavy rains.
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