Bhatkal: Widespread rainfall brings respite from sweltering heat

Bhatkal, 15 Mar 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: Rain coupled with thunder and strong wind which lashed coastal Karnataka on the evening of Wednesday March 14 brought much-needed relief for the people from rising temperature.

Many places in uttara Kannada and Udupi districts received normal to heavy rain while the city got normal rainfall on Wednesday evening.

Good rains were reported from Bhtatkal, Murdeshwer, Honnaver, Shiroor, Puttur, Bantwal, Kadaba, Beltangady, Ullal, Moodbidri, Madanthyar and other places.

Udupi district experienced good rainfall accompanied by thunder. Almost all places including Udupi, Kundapur, Padubidri, Karkala, Shirva, Bajagoli and Brahmavar got good rainfall.

The meteorological department has predicted rainfall to continue for two to three more days as the low pressure area that has been created over Arabian sea is moving towards north-west direction and it is expected to weaken since Thursday evening.

Because of the sudden rainfall, power supply was affected at various places in coastal districts. In some places, power supply was not resumed till midnight. Mescom officials said that problems have arisen in some main lines, and fallen trees and electric poles have compounded the problem. Standing water over bridges and inundated roads gave rise to complications. Five persons were injured after lightning struck them in Bandaru village near Uppinangady. Anand from Darkas House in Bandaru and his family members apart from his neighbour, Umema, were injured. All of them were admitted into private hospital at Uppinangady. There are reports of certain electrical equipments suffering damage in the area.

A cow died and electrical wiring was burnt after the house and cattle shed of Uday Salian from Shirlalu Hunkulbettu in karkala taluk came under lightning. Out of about ten cattle in the shed, one cow died in this incident. A cow also died in Sudemugeru, Beltangady town after a cattle shed caught fire due to lightning. Locals and fire brigade personnel worked together to prevent further damage.

Kasargod, Muleriya, Boikkana, Perla, Badiyadka etc received good rainfall. Mulleriya in particular received heavy rainfall for two hours.

The rainfall had a positive affect on forest fire that was raging in Bhagya protected forest near Kaikamba, Kadaba, where the fire department's efforts were supported by the rainfall which completely put out the forest fire.