Usually coastal region receives
heavy rains in the first week of
June. However, this year Dakshina
Kannada district received an
average of 44.4 mm rain in April
and average rainfall of 111.2 mm
rains in first five days of May.
Six persons lost their lives as
lightning struck them. All of them
belong to Dakshina Kannada
district.
Heavy rains coupled with gusty
winds wreaked havoc in Vittal and
Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada
district, damaging crops on
Monday night.
A total of 281 arecanut trees were
uprooted at Kula village.
Over 500 banana plants, coconut
trees and mango trees, Singapore
jackfruit and Jambunerale (jamun)
trees were uprooted.
An electricity pole was uprooted at
Pandelu. The roof of a house was
damaged at Punacha village.
No rain related deaths were
reported in Udupi or Kodagu.
Those who lost their lives, three
belonged to Puttur taluk, two to
Mangalore taluk and one to
Belthangady taluk.
The deputy commissioner
convened an emergency meeting
after six persons lost their lives
and issued a press release on the
dos and don'ts during lightning.
He also directed that lightning-
prone areas in the district be
identified and lightning arresters
be installed in a few areas.
The gusty winds not only uprooted
several trees and caused partial
damage to 79 houses in Puttur,
Uppinangady and Vittal region, but
also damaged agricultural crops in
many parts of the district.
Mescom officials said rains
partially damaged 50 transformers
and uprooted 600 electricity poles
in the district. Compared to
Dakshina Kannada district, damage
was less in Udupi and Kodagu
districts.
While 29 houses were partially
damaged in Karkala taluk in Udupi
district, two houses were partially
damaged in Perdur village in
Udupi.
No damages reported in Kundapur.
http://m.deccanherald.com/content/404809/monsoon-little-too-soon.html/
