Mangaluru/Udupi: The south-west monsoon caused widespread damage across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts between June and August, leaving eight people dead, four cattle killed and hundreds of houses, roads, bridges, power infrastructure and horticultural crops damaged.

The heavy rain and strong winds caused extensive disruption to public infrastructure in the two coastal districts. The electricity distribution network maintained by the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (MESCOM) was among the worst affected, with thousands of electricity poles and transformers damaged.

5,077 electricity poles brought down

According to the damage assessment, 5,077 electricity poles and 24 transformers were damaged or brought down by strong winds and heavy rainfall in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

The damage to the electricity network has resulted in substantial expenditure for restoration and replacement of infrastructure. MESCOM teams undertook repair and restoration work in affected areas during and after the spells of heavy rain.

The overall infrastructure damage caused by the monsoon is estimated to run into crores of rupees, with roads, bridges, electricity lines and other public assets bearing the brunt of the weather-related incidents.

468 houses damaged

A total of 468 houses were reported damaged across the two districts during the monsoon. While most of the relief-related procedures have been completed, compensation remains to be distributed in around 10 to 15 cases.

Officials said the pending cases are being processed by the respective district administrations after completion of the required procedures.

Under the Central Government’s relief provisions, families whose houses have suffered partial damage are eligible for Rs 6,000, while those whose houses have been completely damaged will receive Rs 1.20 lakh.

The state government will assess the extent of damage and determine additional compensation wherever applicable.

In Udupi district, officials said compensation has already been distributed in all reported cases involving property damage.

Over 1,500 km of roads affected

The monsoon also caused extensive damage to the road network in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

According to the assessment, 1,500.66 km of roads connecting rural and urban areas across the two districts were damaged by heavy rain and strong winds.

Several stretches of roads were affected by flooding, erosion, landslides and other weather-related incidents. The damage has placed an additional burden on local administrations and infrastructure agencies responsible for maintaining road connectivity, particularly in rural areas.

As many as 41 bridges and culverts were also damaged or weakened during the monsoon. These structures are important for connectivity between villages and towns, making their assessment and restoration a priority for the authorities.

Horticultural crops damaged

The agricultural and horticultural sector also suffered losses during the prolonged monsoon.

Crops spread across 30.96 hectares were reported to have been damaged in the two districts. Heavy rainfall and strong winds affected horticultural plantations, adding to the losses faced by farmers.

The extent of crop damage is being assessed as part of the overall monsoon damage survey, with compensation and relief measures subject to the applicable government norms.

Eight deaths reported

The monsoon-related incidents also resulted in eight deaths in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi between June and August. Four cattle were also reported killed during the period.

Reports relating to the deaths caused by rain and strong winds have been sent for verification before compensation is released to the eligible families.

Dakshina Kannada Additional Deputy Commissioner Abid Gaddiyal said compensation would be distributed at the earliest after the verification process is completed.

Of the eight people who died in the two districts, one was from another state. The district administration is awaiting the relevant report from the concerned state government before processing compensation in that case.

Relief process underway

The authorities are continuing to complete documentation and verification in the remaining cases so that eligible beneficiaries can receive compensation.

The scale of the damage highlights the impact of the south-west monsoon on the coastal districts, particularly their road and electricity infrastructure. With thousands of electricity poles damaged and more than 1,500 km of roads affected, restoration and reconstruction work will remain important for maintaining connectivity and essential services in the region.

The district administrations are expected to continue coordinating with various departments to complete the remaining compensation process and assess additional infrastructure and crop losses.