Bhatkal: Heavy rainfall continued across the coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district—Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumta, Ankola, and Karwar—as well as parts of the neighbouring Udupi district from Wednesday night till late Thursday. With worsening weather conditions, the district administration had already issued a red alert and declared a holiday for all schools on Thursday. After reviewing the situation, the Uttara Kannada administration extended the closure to Friday for all schools in the coastal taluks as a precautionary measure.
Several areas reported lightning and thunder during the intense downpour. Continuous rainfall disrupted daily life, confining residents to their homes and prompting closures of offices and shops.
In Bhatkal, relentless rain once again turned Shamsuddin Circle and Ranginkatte on National Highway 66 into a virtual pond. Heavy waterlogging on the highway caused severe traffic disruptions. The nearby Sagar Road, Tenginagundi Cross, and Old Bus Stand also witnessed major flooding. Streets across taluk, including Qidwai Road, Jamia Street, Gausia Street, Azad Nagar, and Kogti, resembled overflowing streams.
Several residential areas such as Muscat Colony, Salman Abad, Bunder Road, Mankuli and Bengre reported water entering houses and compounds, causing distress among residents.
In a separate incident in Belke village of Bhatkal taluk, lightning struck a cattle shed belonging to Venkatesh Durgappa Naik during the early hours of Thursday. The shed caught fire, and its roof was completely gutted. Fortunately, four animals were rescued in time, although two suffered minor injuries. Hay stored inside was also destroyed. Firefighters responded promptly and prevented the blaze from spreading further.
While rainfall slightly subsided in Mangaluru on Thursday, heavy showers continued along the coastal stretch from Bhatkal to Udupi. Though Honnavar, Kumta, Ankola, and Karwar saw some relief by afternoon, the region remained under thick cloud cover.
Heavy rains are forecasted to persist across coastal Karnataka, including Bhatkal, until June 17. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi districts through June 17, warning of extremely heavy rainfall across the region.
Bhatkal recorded 156 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, bringing the total monsoon rainfall in the town to 1058.9 mm so far this season.
Authorities have urged residents to stay alert, avoid low-lying and flood-prone areas, and adhere to official advisories as the region braces for continued heavy downpours.