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May 30, 2018

Report on flooding in Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada) and Udupi due to high intensity rain #May2018

Report on flooding in Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada) and Udupi due to high intensity rain Due to the influence of well marked low pressure area over southeast Arabian sea off Karnataka coast, Parts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi receiving heavy rainfall of very intensity in the range of of 200 mm/hr in few parts. Mangaluru recorded a record rainfall of 326.5 mm in a span of 10 hours, which is highest recorded rainfall in 24 hours till date. The annual rainfall for May for Mangalore is 166 mm. Coastal districts of Karnataka were receiving intermitted rains for the past three days because of depression formed in Arbian sea, The very high intensity rain received on 29-5-2018 from 8:30 am till evening led to inundation of low lying area and water logged streets in many parts of the city. Areas such as Jyothi, Ballalbagh Kottara Chowki,Padil, Thokkottu, Pumpwell, Central Railway station, Mallikatte Kodialbail and Panumbur recorded more than 250 mm rainfall. Few photos of water logging is as follows: Forecast: Advance forecast was given by IMD and KSNDMC, which was disseminated to all concerned through email and Whattsup groups, but the intensity of this magnitude was unexpected. As the high intenstiy fo rain remained unabatted, District and State administration without any delay. Chronology of Action Taken: 1. Activation of State Emergency Operation Center and District Emergency Operation Center of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. 2. Helpline number 0824-1077 dessiminated to public using TV, Social media(Whattsup) and Radio. 3. Immediately Deployed Fire and Emergency Personnel and Home Guards with boats and other equipment for search and rescue operation. Glimpses of rescue operation is as follows: 4. Children and elderly person were rescued on priority. 5. Police was alerted to divert traffic entering low lying area and also to maintain law and order. 6. Created twitter hastag #SOSMangaluru/#SOSUdupi for emergency response and also shared whatsup numbers of Officers to general public to report incidence or seek assistance. 7. NDRF, SDRF and Civil Defence Quick Response team deployed. 8. Uninterrupted communication is the key for rescue and relief operation. Therefore, Principal Secretary wrote to State Telecom Disaster Coordination Committee chairman to instruct all telecom and mobile service providers to ensure connective during emergency. Response of few service providers are as follows: Note: Till now there has been no outage of connective because of this preemptive measure 9. Communities and NGOs where also roped into manage the situation. 10. Do’s and Don’ts during floods were disseminated to public. NDMA messages given below were widely publicized, Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are personally manning the DEOCs and in constantly touch with field level officers. All necessary support is extended for rescue and relief operation. As at 9 pm 29-05-2018, 545 persons were rescued by Fire and Emergency and Home Guards using 4 boats. NDRF, SDRF, Civil Defence Quick Response Team also deployed. Provisional Summary of life loss and damages District No of deaths Houses damaged Other infrastructure damages such as road, electrical poles etc Dakshina Kannada (damages have occurred predominately in Mangaluru Taluk) 2 ( two year old boy due to lightning, 61 year women Smt. Mohini drowning in flood water) 52 Yet to be assessed Udupi (Udupi Taluk) 1 (Smt Sheela due to lightning) 69 Yet to be assessed Total 3 111 District Disasters Management Authorities of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi is in control of situation. Chief Minister Office, Chief Secretary and Relief Commissioner/Principal Secretary, Revenue (DM) are constant touch with Deputy Commissioners and are guiding and providing all necessary support to district administration. All possible measures are taken to mitigate the adverse impact from flood. The intensity of rain is likely to reduce by tomorrow as per the forecast given by various agencies. Comprehensive damage assessment will be taken up in due course and report will be submitted to Ministry of Home Affairs and NDMA.















Estimated Loss Due To Torrential Rain Rs 20 Crore, Situation Normal – DC Senthil Mangaluru: 

“According to weather forecasts, the monsoon was predicted from June 1st. We have been preparing for the monsoon since last month and had kept the entire team on standby. But the onset of monsoon began earlier than expected on May 28 late night, and it converted to a low-pressure system. We did not get the time to give out warnings. In the monsoon season, low pressure is normal and we generally get 150 mm of rain. In Mangaluru, we have faced such situations and there was no major concern about it. But very strangely that low pressure had entirely precipitated. On May 28 night, precipitation occurred throughout the taluks of Mangaluru and Udupi within a short period of time causing 368 mm of rainfall in six hours in these places,” said Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil in a press meet held at his office here on May 30.

Addressing the mediapersons, DC Senthil said that since there was a high tide during the same time as the rains, the major storm water drains that open to the Gurupur and Netravati systems had reverse flow. “Both the drains were facing high tide conditions. When there is a high tide, backwater from the river flows into the canals of the city. Due to this, it was not possible to drain the rainwater, causing water stagnation throughout the areas in the city. Once we found that the water had been stagnated, we immediately deployed all the teams and took necessary measures. A control room was established and was used to monitor the entire district since there was heavy rainfall in the district. We were prepared for the monsoon and immediately responded to the situation. We were well aware that after 6 pm, the situation would settle down since there would be a low tide and the water would recede. Everything returned to normalcy with no more rains or signs of a cyclone,” said the DC adding that a holiday was immediately announced for schools and colleges. The rains caused damage to property and resulted in the loss of two lives – Mohini, who was buried under a retaining wall and Mukta Bai, who toppled from the bed and died.

The DC further said that a team had been formed and it was headed by a nodal officer to monitor the situation throughout the night. Preliminary assessment and categorization was already conducted for the public and private property. According to the estimates, the rains caused Rs 16 crores of financial loss in infrastructure damages and Rs 4.11 crore for house damages. The total estimated loss is nearly Rs 20 crores

“We are giving ex gratia when such incidents occur. Today, we have handed over two cheques to two families. In the district, 35 houses were fully damaged, 42 houses were severely damaged and 483 houses had marginal damages. We will hand over the relief according to NDRF norms. There is no need to panic. For safety purposes, we have summoned an NDRF team and they have been stationed in Mangaluru. Life has become normal in Mangaluru and we do not have any prediction of bad weather. Certain roads and pathways will have to restored and will be done in a day or two. In three areas, we need to get rid of stagnated water. I have visited some places and have inspected them. I have noticed that in certain areas, corrections are required,” DC added. DC further said that he has formed a committee headed by the MUDA commissioner, consisting of a team of engineers and a team of other domain experts to inspect all the major stormwater drains. The team has been given three days to check the water drains, from Kottara Chowki to Gurupur system and Jeppu to Netravati system. “If there is any encroachment along these areas, they will be reported. In three days, we will receive the report and intervene accordingly. If there is any bottleneck or encroachment, they will be removed immediately,” warned DC Senthil. ADC Vaishali and DHO Dr Ramakrishna were also present.

http://www.mangalorean.com/estimated-loss-due-to-torrential-rain-rs-20-crore-situation-normal-dc-senthil/