A spell of intense rain, accompanied by flashes of lightning and roaring thunder, brought long-awaited relief from the relentless heat in Dakshina Kannada, including Mangaluru, on March 12.

The unanticipated rainfall took many by surprise, as the day had been stiflingly hot and humid, with no indication of an impending downpour. In several areas, dark clouds were absent, yet by evening, the heavens opened, soaking the city. Some localities in Beltangady, such as Kakkinje, Mundaje, and Somnadka, even witnessed a brief hailstorm.

While some residents were caught unprepared, others had sensed a change in the weather and carried umbrellas as the skies remained gloomy since morning. Despite the cooling showers, many hoped for more sustained rainfall to further ease the heat.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the showers were part of pre-monsoon activity triggered by a depression in the Bay of Bengal. Rains were initially forecast between March 11 and 12, with another spell anticipated around March 18 across Coastal Karnataka and other regions of the state.