Mangaluru : An huge tree fell on old hotel building, Akka Makka, off the busy K.S. Rao Road in Hampankatta was damaged here on Sunday.
Due to rain several other property also were damaged in the district, In the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Dakshina Kannada received an average of 72.4 mm rainfall. While the highest of 79.1 mm was recorded in Bantwal, it was 78.2 mm in Belthangady, 73.5 mm in Mangaluru, 70.6 mm in Puttur and 60.8 mm in Sullia.
Officials said that the water-level in the Netravathi at Bantwal stood at 3.8 m against the danger-level of 8.5 m and in Uppinangady, it was at 19 m against the danger-level of 29.5 m.
The Akka Makka Hotel building is in the Aithappa Compound off the K.S. Rao Road. “I just came out of my room to see the metal sheet over my room coming down at around 7 a.m.,” said Satyavathi, a relative of the owner of the hotel. The tree branch fell just after a brief spell of heavy rain that was followed by gusty winds.
Another property that was damaged was the tiled house opposite the hotel. Sushil, who lives in the house, said that he had been complaining to the Mangaluru City Corporation and the Mangaluru police since three years asking them to remove the old tree. “There was no response. We have suffered damage now,” he rued.
Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath rushed to the spot along with local councillor Poornima and the corporation support staff at around 8 a.m. It took more than six hours for the corporation staff to remove fallen tree branches from the area which has a narrow road for access. As traffic movement was hindered, Mayor Bhaskar Moily had to wait for a few minutes before the traffic police came to the spot. Then, residents asked Mr. Moily to arrange for pruning a few other old trees in the locality.
Heavy rain and gusty winds damaged a portion of the tiled roof house of Ismail Dappelimar in Subash Nagar in Munnur village near Kuttar. A part of the farmhouse of Sundara in Majaltoota in the same area was also damaged. Urban Development and Housing Minister U.T. Khader visited the two houses and assured the residents of compensation.
Falling trees damaged several roadside electricity poles in Kodimbady resulting in disruption of traffic movement on the road between Puttur and Uppinangady. Power was shut down in the area for a few hours on Sunday morning.