With the monsoon just weeks away, a critical safety initiative in Dakshina Kannada has been quietly shelved. The proposal to install lightning arresters in over 40 identified high-risk areas has been rejected by the State Disaster Management Authority, leaving the region vulnerable.

The plan was initially put into motion last year under the directive of the district-in-charge minister. Following this, the District Disaster Management Authority submitted detailed proposals, identifying lightning-prone zones across all taluks, including Mangaluru, Puttur, Belthangady, Sullia, and Kadaba. Officers had even shortlisted locations and obtained cost estimates between ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh per unit.

Despite these efforts, no approval was granted. Officials now reveal that expert opinion deemed the project unviable—arguing that lightning arresters only safeguard one or two buildings and that large-scale installation is not cost-effective.

This decision comes in stark contrast to the district’s status as the most lightning-prone in Karnataka. From the Netravati bridge area in Mangaluru to the villages of Venur hobli and Sampaje, repeated lightning strikes have resulted in casualties and property damage.

Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan urged citizens to stay alert during lightning, emphasizing indoor safety as the best defense in the absence of infrastructure-based solutions.

The shelving of this proposal underscores a concerning gap between disaster risk assessments and real-time action—raising serious questions about preparedness ahead of the looming monsoon.

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