Rains cause sea erosion in K'taka

Mangalore, June 19 (UNI) With the onset of monsoon severe sea erosion had been reported in Ullal on the outskirts of the city and some parts of Udupi district.

Ullal, Gangolli and Shiroor in Udupi district bore the brunt of the monsoon fury. Officials, however denied any such incidents, though reports from the two district said erosion had taken place and several houses on the edge of the coast faced the threat of damages.

Due to heavy rains in Ullal, over 15 houses were under threat of collapse at places like Subhashnagar, Mukkacheri and Kotepura where the houses were exposed to the waves. At Hilarianagar in Ullal, the huge boulders laid on the shore to prevent the erosion had been washed away.

People living in these areas have started shifting to safe places on their own, the reports said.

Meanwhile, reports from Kundapura in Udupi district said due to the strong winds and tidal waves, sand accumulated on the side of Kodi and Gangolli had been now pushed to the wharf of Gangolli Port threatening the movement of the fishing boats.

Sea erosion had also become severe at Kodi and Maravanthe beach area where the sea and the river was divided by National Highway 17 offering a scenic view attracting lot of tourists. The huge boulders placed to check erosion had been washed way.

Following rains, a house in Udupi taluk and a school building at Suratkal had been partially damaged. Low-lying areas in several places in the undivided district have been flooded with rain water, eye witness reports said.

UNI