Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi
Mangaluru/Udupi, May 23: After days of intense downpour, rainfall across Dakshina Kannada (DK) and Udupi districts eased slightly on Thursday, with only intermittent showers reported in some areas. Compared to Wednesday, the coastal belt witnessed a reduction in wind and rain activity. Some places received rain in the morning, followed by cloudy and partly sunny weather. In Mangaluru, the day remained cloudy with sunny spells, while Udupi experienced good rain in the evening and night.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), an orange alert has been issued for May 23, followed by a red alert on May 24, and an orange alert from May 25 to 28 for the coastal region. During this period, intense rain accompanied by strong winds is expected.
The recent rainfall has led to a drop in temperatures across the coastal region. On May 22, Mangaluru recorded a maximum temperature of 31.7°C, which is 6.4°C below normal. The minimum temperature was 23.7°C, 1.6°C below the seasonal average.
In Udupi district, areas such as Udupi town, Brahmavar, Kaup, and Hiriyadka experienced a mix of sunny and cloudy weather during the day, followed by significant rainfall in the evening and night.
On Wednesday, wind and rain caused partial damage to one house in Kundapur taluk, six houses in Brahmavar taluk, and three houses in Udupi taluk. Additionally, areca nut plantations belonging to three individuals in Kundapur taluk suffered damage, while rain also affected the government higher primary school in Mooduthonse village of Udupi taluk.
In several places, waste cleared from drains and stormwater canals was left piled up along their banks. This issue has been observed in both rural areas and certain wards of urban areas. It is crucial to dispose of the waste immediately after cleaning to prevent it from re-entering the drainage systems during rain. Local bodies including gram panchayats and urban municipal councils need to prioritise timely waste disposal.
In view of the monsoon, Udupi deputy commissioner Dr K Vidyakumari and zilla panchayat CEO Prateek Boyel have instructed various departments, urban local bodies, and gram panchayats to make necessary preparations and expedite the cleaning of stormwater drains in both rural and urban areas. The forest department, in coordination with MESCOM, has accelerated the removal of hazardous trees. Drain and canal cleaning operations are actively underway in many locations to ensure smooth water flow during the monsoon.