Mangaluru: Kumaradhara River swelled following continuous heavy rain and completely submerged the sacred bathing ghat at Kukke Sri Subrahmanya Temple in Dakshina Kannada district Saturday, prompting authorities to bar devotees from entering the river.With the bathing ghat inaccessible, large drums filled with water were placed near the temple as an alternative bathing facility for devotees.
Large water-filled drums arranged near Kukke Sri Subrahmanya Temple for devotees after floodwaters in the swollen Kumaradhara River submerged the bathing ghat Saturday
Kukke Temple executive officer Aravinda Ayyappa Suthagundi said devotees were not being allowed into the bathing ghat. “With the river flow strong, police and staff have been deployed to strictly ensure devotees do not enter the water,” he said.Flooding disrupts trafficHeavy rain also led to flooding on the road to Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, though vehicles were allowed to pass. At Mannasanka on the Dharmasthala-Ujire Road, flooding disrupted traffic for about an hour. Water levels at the bathing ghat in Dharmasthala also increased.Traffic movement was affected after a section of land caved in near Gundi on the Dharmasthala-Kalmanja Road. A landslide on the Mundaje-Dharmasthala Road further disrupted vehicular movement.Rising river levelsDakshina Kannada and Udupi districts received intermittent rain. Nadpalu in Karkala taluk of Udupi district and Mundaje in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada recorded the highest rainfall of 174.5mm and 160mm respectively between 8.30am Friday and 6.30am Saturday.
The Mundaje-Dharmasthala Road in Belthangady taluk remained closed after heavy rain flooded a stretch of the road Saturday
The IMD has warned of a flash-flood risk in low-lying areas of the district until 11.30am on Aug 2 and has also sounded an orange alert.The water level of the Nethravati River at Uppinangady touched 29.2 metres above mean sea level (MSL), against the danger mark of 31.5 metres. In Bantwal, the Nethravati stood at 6.9 metres above MSL, against the danger level of 9 metres.The Kumaradhara River rose to 81 metres above MSL, while the danger mark is 84.3 metres.Administration on alertOfficials said a 25-member NDRF team had been sent to Belthangady, while a 10-member SDRF team was deployed at Subrahmanya.During an online meeting on Saturday, Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Darshan HV directed all taluk officials to remain available round the clock to handle rain-related emergencies.
An arecanut plantation remains submerged under floodwaters at Mundaje in Belthangady taluk Saturday
He said control rooms must function continuously throughout the day. Residents living in high-risk houses should be relocated if necessary. Temporary measures, including placing sandbags, should be taken in soil erosion-prone areas, including on private land if required. Fire services, SDRF and NDRF teams must remain on high alert at all times, he instructed.Zilla panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari, additional deputy commissioner Raju K and other officials attended the meeting.
