NDRF, SDRF teams to be deployed for rain-related emergencies in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: Due to widespread rainfall across Dakshina Kannada district, the National and State Disaster Response Forces will be arriving for disaster management, said deputy commissioner (in-charge) K Anandh.He held an online meeting with officials on Sunday regarding the district's rain situation.A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be stationed in Puttur, while two teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) will be placed in Mangaluru and Subrahmanya. These teams will come equipped with all necessary tools and machinery to operate during natural disasters. The SDRF teams have already arrived, he said."All chief officers of urban local bodies and PDOs in the district must remain vigilant for disaster management. An immediate response is required in case of any natural calamities, prioritising the prevention of loss of life. Coordination with the taluk administration is essential to mitigate the severity of disasters. The Mescom, forest department, and any related departments must respond swiftly," the DC instructed.The meteorological department issued a red alert for the next five days. Caution is advised in areas with previous incidents. JCBs and boats should be kept ready, he said, and instructed the clearing of dilapidated anganwadi and school rooms before schools reopen.Complaints were received about severe inconvenience in some residential areas due to national highway projects, he said, directing the project director of NHAI to respond immediately. Fishing boats that set out before the monsoon are returning due to adverse weather conditions, and permission will be granted for these boats to enter the NMPT port, he said.Artificial flooding reported at the Pumpwell junction in Mangaluru city caused traffic disruptions. While the service roads below the NH flyover at Pumpwell were flooded, water gushed into nearby buildings, too. The compound wall of St Ann's School near State Bank collapsed. Water gushed into many houses in several parts of Bantwal and other taluks. The wall of a house under construction collapsed in Kadeshvalya.Meanwhile, power disruptions were reported at many places across the district.The compound wall of the Puttur City Municipality building collapsed due to rain, damaging three rickshaws. Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai visited the site and instructed officials to immediately visit the affected areas, respond appropriately, and remain alert 24x7."Power supply disruptions occurred due to fallen electric poles in some places, due to wind and rain. The work of reassembling the fallen poles is progressing rapidly. I have already issued strict instructions to the Mescom authorities. Wherever electric poles are damaged, they should be immediately repaired to restore the power supply," the MLA said.In rural areas, if there is any damage to houses or other structures due to rain, village accountants should visit the site immediately, even if the incident occurs at night. Revenue officials should be vigilant in providing relief. If there are any houses at risk, officials should relocate the families from there, the MLA said.