Mangalore/Udupi, 30 July 2010: Despite the fact that the City Corporation has been making big claims on road widening, the outcome of unscientific planning was obvious on Thursday as huge stream of gushing water surged its way on the concrete roads at almost every street in the city. Water clogged on road at Lalbaugh, Kottara Chowki, Bejai road, Bikarnakatta and many other low lying areas. Since the water was gushing on either sides of the road, the pedestrians were compelled to walk on the middle of the road as there are no proper footpaths.
This also had an impact on the movement of traffic. Rain water gushed from the streams at Kulai, Pandeshwara, Attavara and Bharathinagar. As many as 50 houses were damaged near Jeppinamogaru after a bund of a farm land opened. Meanwhile, bathroom and toilet of a house located in a cliff on Kulshekar - Shakthinagar road collapsed on Thursday evening and fell on another house situated below it damaging its bedroom and kitchen. In this incident Narayana Gowda (70), suffered injuries and has been admitted to a private hospital in Mangalore.
Fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot. As the rains continue to lash, the lose soil is caving in and as a safety measures family members of both the houses have been vacated the house. The house on top, belonging to Fathima, may collapse any moment as it is located in a cliff. If it collapses, the house located below, belonging to Narayana Gowda will be totally damaged. Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj visited the spot.
In Udupi
As heavy rains continued to lash the district, a huge mayflower tree fell on a Zilla Panchayath Higher Primary School in Manipur village of Udupi taluk injuring three students. They have been hospitalised. The tragedy took place in the afternoon when the students of 6th standard were writing their monthly class test in a hall adjacent to class rooms. About 12 to 15 students were taken to Ajjarkadu Government District hospital, of which three suffered severe injuries.
Udupi taluk witnessed heavy loss owing to incessant rain that lashed the district on Thursday. Two classrooms of Government Junior College in Badagrama village collapsed resulting in the loss of Rs 75,000. A house in Shivalli village was partially damaged while a house belonging to Gulabi Poojarthy in Uppuru village was partially damaged due to heavy rains.
A house belonging to Shubodaya Poojary was partially damaged in Uppuru village as a coconut tree fell on the roof of the house. A house of Vimala Poojarthy in Uppuru village partially collapsed due to heavy rain. In Yenagudde village, a house of Poornima was partially damaged as a huge tree fell on the walls of the house.
In Kundapur taluk, a house belonging to Shekhar in Uppadimandadi village was partially damaged. The walls of the house of Bhaghi Shedthi in Siddhapur village collapsed. District received a rainfall of 48.70 mm for the last 24 hours. Kundapur taluk received 28 mm, Udupi recorded 39.02 mm and Karkala recorded 78.08 mm rainfall on Thursday.