Mangaluru: Continuous overnight downpours wreaked havoc across Dakshina Kannada district on Friday, resulting in the deaths of eight people in various rain-related tragedies.

In Ullal taluk, deadly landslides took four lives in the early hours. A house in Pambada Hitthilukodi near Montepadavu collapsed under a landslide, killing 65-year-old Prema Kanthappa Poojary and her two young grandchildren — Aryan (3) and Arush (2). In another heart-wrenching incident in Kanakare near Deralakatte, 10-year-old Fathima Nayeema lost her life when a retaining wall collapsed behind her home.

In separate incidents, three men were feared drowned. Two fishermen, Yashwant Karkera (52) and Kamalaksha Salian (47) of Thota Bengre, went missing in the Palguni river while retrieving fishing nets at 1 a.m. A case was registered at Panambur police station. In Moodbidri taluk, 35-year-old Guruprasad Bhat from Valpady village was swept away when a makeshift wooden plank atop a check dam gave way under his weight.

District-in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has announced ₹5 lakh in compensation for each of the families affected by the landslides. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, U.T. Khader, has urged the appointment of a special officer to oversee the worsening rain situation.

Dakshina Kannada recorded 85 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, while Udupi saw 96.1 mm — nearly eight times the usual amount. As a precaution, schools and Anganwadis across the district remained closed on Saturday.

Top Rainfall Spots (KSNDMC):

  • Ullal-Kotekar: 312.5 mm

  • Ullal-Talapady: 288 mm

  • Ullal-Kinya: 282.5 mm

  • Ullal-Munnur: 263.5 mm

  • Mangaluru-Bala: 172 mm

    • Read Also: