Coastal Karnataka’s Mangalore city was ravaged by torrential rains on Tuesday resulting in floods in many areas. According to reports, coastal areas of Karnataka were hit by cyclone Mekunu on Tuesday triggering heavy rains.
The heavy rains in parts of Karnataka have claimed three lives so far, According to a source, a schoolgirl was washed away in an overflowing drain near Padubidri, while fire personnel retrieved 60-year-old Mohini’s body after floods buried her under the debris of a compound wall in Mangaluru. Sheela Nalke died after she was struck by lightning at her home at 3 am in Karkala taluk in Udupi district.
State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Civil Defence and other teams have started with rescue and relief operations in affected areas. Mangalore’s District Commissioner has called for an inspection of all drains in the city.
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, in an early morning teleconference with the deputy commissioners of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, has assured relief to the coastal areas on a war footing. He has said in a press release issued on Wednesday that the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) team has been rushed to Mangaluru and Udupi with equipment. The team will arrive in Mangaluru by mid-morning on Wednesday.
As per reports by Skymet weather, cyclone Mekunu was likely to hit Kerala this week. The private weather forecaster has predicted “moderate to heavy rains with one or very heavy spells likely over Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Karnataka” today.
The India Meteorological Department had said that the southwest monsoon hit Kerala on Tuesday, three days before its scheduled arrival. The onset of monsoon over the state marks the commencement of the rainy season in India. 1 June is the official onset date for the arrival of monsoon in the country.
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