Rain intensity reduces; but rough seas still threaten coast

MANGALURU: The intensity of the rain from Wednesday morning has lessened giving a much needed reprieve to the harrowed population affected by the continuous down pour from the past two days. But the worst affected was Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) bearing the brunt of the loss, which was still not estimated.
In the neighbouring Udupi District, the loss to Mescom due to damage to electricity poles, wires and transformers was roughly put at Rs 22 lakh.
In spite of reduced intensity, the average rainfall in the last 24 hours from Tuesday 8.30am was 100.3mm in the Dakshina Kannada District, with Sullia taluk recording 157mm. The rough sea has been causing havoc along the coast.
On Wednesday, the stairs leading to the famous temple Someshwara Temple at Ullal, about 14km from here, were damaged as the strong waves eroded its foundation. The temple is known as Rudrapada Kshetra, and is also a pilgrimage centre for performing last rites for departed souls. The temple is said to have been built by Kings of Alupa Dynasty in the 10th century AD. The two inscriptions found in the temple say that it was renovated in the 15th century A.D. at the time of Vijayanagara King Immadi Devaraya. The stairs at the other end are also facing danger with advancing rough sea waves. A couple of houses on the shores also lost their foundation as sand bed was clawed by the sea waves.
Meanwhile the water level in the Nethravathi River at Bantwal is hovering near the danger mark. The level was at 8.4 meters at 8.30am with the danger level being 8.5 meters.
Though the intensity of the rain was reduced, the water level at Nethravathi River in Uppinangady went up by a meter from Tuesday’s level to 29.7 meters (31.5 danger level), due to heavy downpour at the Upper Reaches in the Western Ghats. Even the water level in the Kumaradhar River at Uppinangady went up by four meters to 25 meters with the danger level being 26.5 meters. The water levels at power generation dams like AMR, Disha and Sagar were at full levels and the water level at Thumbe was at 7 meters with maximum level being 7 meters. All the 30 gates were open at Thumbe Vented dam.
On Wednesday, Sullia taluk got the highest rainfall at 157mm and the least was in Mangaluru taluk at 61.4mm. Belthangady and Puttur taluks got 99mm and 108 mm respectively. Bantwal taluk received 89mm of rainfall. Mescom in Udupi District lost 149 poles and 11 transformers from the beginning of the August month.