Mangaluru: Heavy rains lashed the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada since Wednesday night inundating low-lying areas and affecting normal life.

The district administration declared a holiday for pre-university and degree colleges on Thursday. As students had already reached schools in the morning, managements were directed to conduct classes with necessary precautions, Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner K V Rajendra said.

The meteorological department has sounded an orange alert in the district till Friday and yellow alert till July 4, he said.

Movement of traffic was affected in many parts of the city. A portion of the road to Mangaluru International Airport was damaged in the rains, sources said.

Incessant rains have also led to water logging in various parts of the city and traffic snarls were reported. Artificial flooding disrupted traffic in Pumpwell, Thokkottu, Kottara Chowki and other places and vehicles were rerouted, sources said.

Heavy rains pounded many places in Udupi also. Three places–Shivapura (189 mm) and Varnaga (183 mm) in Karkala taluk and Hebri (265 mm) town of Udupi district- recorded the highest rainfall in the state during the last 24 hours, according to the Met department. 

Heavy rain in Bhatkal and surrounding regions. Water accumulated on roads in Bhatkal National Highway affecting movement of vehicles. Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumta, Ankola and Karwar received heavy rain for the whole day. Water gushed into some houses in Bhatkal taluk.

Three houses partially collapsed in Bhatkal taluk.

(With Input from PTI)