Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia

Sullia, Aug 26: Torrential rains battered Kukke Subrahmanya and its surrounding areas from Tuesday morning till afternoon, severely disrupting normal life. The heavy downpour caused water levels in the Kumaradhara and Darpana Theertha rivers to rise significantly, triggering floods, landslides, and widespread damage across the region.

Floodwaters reach Adi Subrahmanya temple

Due to the massive inflow of water in the Darpana Theertha river, floodwaters breached the expansive front yard of the Adi Subrahmanya temple on Tuesday. Devotees were forced to take shelter inside the temple and in other safe areas for some time. Locals noted that this is the first time during this monsoon season that the Darpana Theertha river has witnessed such a massive flow of water.

However, despite the surge in the Darpana Theertha, the water level in the Kumaradhara river did not rise enough to submerge the bathing ghat (Snanaghatta). As a result, visiting devotees were still able to use the facility for their holy bath.

Roads blocked, traffic thrown out of gear

The heavy downpour heavily impacted vehicular movement across the region. The Punchattaru bridge near Kaniyoor on the Puttur-Subrahmanya connecting road was completely submerged, forcing the closure of the road and leaving vehicles stranded in long queues on both sides. Floodwaters also entered the nearby Hari Bhajana Mandir, inundating the premises.

In Kukke Subrahmanya, the bypass main road was severely waterlogged after more than an hour of continuous rain, causing hardships to motorists.

Meanwhile, traffic on the Bisile Ghat stretch came to a grinding halt as several trees were uprooted and fell onto the road due to gusty winds and heavy rain. Tourists and passengers, including those in KSRTC buses, were left stranded on the ghat road since Tuesday afternoon.

Water enters houses, minor landslides reported

The rains caused water to overflow onto the road at Noochila, on the Kashikatte-Adi Subrahmanya route, eventually gushing into the houses of local residents Prasanna Bhat and Shekhar Bhat. In Kallapane, floodwaters entered a house, causing its walls to collapse.

Minor landslides were reported in several places, including Enekallu, Maliyala, and Kallapane. At Maliyala on the Subrahmanya-Sullia road, soil caved in by the roadside, sparking fears of major landslides if the rains persist.

Additionally, rainwater collected in an elephant trench constructed by the forest department near Kulkunda and began overflowing towards nearby residential areas, creating anxiety among the locals.