Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil on Wednesday constituted a committee of officials to examine obstructions in major storm-water drains that said to have aggravated the impact of Tuesday’s deluge and promised immediate action to remove hurdles if any.

Mr. Senthil told reporters here that the committee would comprise engineers and domain experts headed by Mangaluru Urban Development Authority Commissioner. It would survey two major storm-water drains — the one that starts from Kottara to join the Phalguni (Gurupura) and the other from Jeppu to the Netravathi.

These overflowing drains led to inundation in Pumpwell, Jeppu, Kottara and other areas in the city.

The committee, in a period of three days, would inspect the two drains and report of chicken necks or blockage. “If there are chicken necks or encroachments, action will be taken legally to remove it. We are committed to proper maintenance of the main storm water drains,” he said.

Mr. Senthil said committee will also look at the cause of waterlogging at the underpass in Padil on the National Highway 66.

The daylong rain on Tuesday caused loss of around over ₹ 21 crore that includes damage to 97.29 km of road, 1,381 electric poles and 560 houses in Dakshina Kannada.

Mr. Senthil said that Mangaluru taluk bore the brunt of heavy rain where the estimated loss was ₹ 16.22 crore. The neighbouring Puttur taluk suffered loss of ₹ 1.96 crore, followed by Bantwal where the loss was at ₹ 1.14 crore. Following orders of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, he has given cheque of ₹ 5 lakh each to the kin of 55-year-old Mohini of Kadri and 69-year-old Muktha Bai who died on Tuesday.

While water has drained out from many areas, waterlogging still continues in Jeppinamogaru. “A team of Mangaluru City Corporation officials would address the issue,” Mr. Senthil said.

Of the 560 houses that were damaged, 35 houses were fully damaged while 42 were severely damaged. There were 483 houses that were marginally damaged. Mr. Senthil said compensation as per National Disaster Response Fund norms will be paid from Thursday. Compensation will be paid to families whose houses were inundated.

Mr. Senthil said that the situation in the city has eased since Tuesday night when rainwater started to drain into the sea. Except for one family, all those who stayed in the six shelter homes have returned. One company of National Disaster Response Force and a team of Civil Defence Personnel will be in the city till Thursday, he said.