Sullia: Torrential rain lashed Kukke Subrahmanya and surrounding areas from Tuesday morning until afternoon, triggering floods, minor landslides and widespread disruption to normal life. The heavy downpour caused a sharp rise in the water levels of the Kumaradhara and Darpana Theertha rivers, affecting roads, houses and other low-lying areas across the region.

The intense rainfall also disrupted vehicular movement on key routes, with a bridge submerged near Kaniyoor, trees falling on the Bisile Ghat road and several stretches witnessing severe waterlogging. In some areas, floodwaters entered houses and other premises, while soil caving and minor landslides raised concerns among residents.

Floodwaters enter Adi Subrahmanya temple premises

A massive inflow into the Darpana Theertha river caused floodwaters to breach the expansive front yard of the Adi Subrahmanya temple on Tuesday.

Devotees at the temple were forced to take shelter inside the shrine and in other safe areas for some time as water entered the premises. Locals said the Darpana Theertha had witnessed such a massive flow of water for the first time during the current monsoon season.

Despite the heavy flow in the Darpana Theertha, the situation was different at the Kumaradhara river. Its water level did not rise sufficiently to submerge the bathing ghat, or Snanaghatta, allowing devotees visiting Kukke Subrahmanya to continue using the facility for their holy bath.

The contrast in the water levels of the two rivers provided some relief to devotees, even as flooding in and around the Adi Subrahmanya temple caused temporary concern.

Bridge submerged, road traffic disrupted

The heavy rainfall severely affected road connectivity in the region. The Punchattaru bridge near Kaniyoor, located on the Puttur-Subrahmanya connecting road, was completely submerged under floodwaters.

Authorities were forced to close the route, resulting in long queues of vehicles on both sides of the submerged bridge. Motorists and passengers faced considerable inconvenience as vehicular movement came to a halt.

Floodwaters also entered the nearby Hari Bhajana Mandir, inundating its premises and adding to the damage caused by the intense rainfall.

In Kukke Subrahmanya, the bypass main road was heavily waterlogged after more than an hour of continuous downpour. The accumulation of water on the road created difficulties for motorists and affected the smooth movement of vehicles.

The rain-related disruption extended to several other routes in the region as continuous showers and strong winds created hazardous conditions.

Trees fall on Bisile Ghat road

Traffic on the Bisile Ghat stretch came to a complete standstill after several trees were uprooted by gusty winds and heavy rain and fell across the road.

Tourists, private vehicle passengers and commuters travelling in KSRTC buses were left stranded on the ghat road from Tuesday afternoon. The fallen trees blocked vehicular movement and disrupted travel through the scenic but rain-prone stretch.

The disruption highlighted the risks associated with travelling through ghat sections during periods of intense monsoon rainfall, particularly when strong winds accompany the downpour.

Motorists were forced to wait as the road remained blocked, while the heavy rain continued to affect movement in several parts of the Kukke Subrahmanya region.

Floodwater enters houses

The torrential rain also affected residential areas. At Noochila, on the Kashikatte-Adi Subrahmanya route, rainwater overflowed onto the road and eventually entered the houses of local residents Prasanna Bhat and Shekhar Bhat.

The sudden inflow caused distress to the families as water gushed into their homes during the heavy downpour.

In Kallapane, floodwaters entered a house and caused its walls to collapse. The incident reflected the extent of the impact on residential properties in low-lying and vulnerable areas.

Residents in several parts of the region remained concerned as persistent rainfall continued to increase the possibility of further flooding and damage.

Minor landslides raise concerns

Minor landslides were reported from Enekallu, Maliyala and Kallapane following the continuous heavy rain.

At Maliyala, along the Subrahmanya-Sullia road, soil caved in near the roadside. The incident sparked fears among residents and road users that further rainfall could trigger a larger landslide and pose a threat to traffic and nearby areas.

The region’s hilly terrain and waterlogged soil have increased concerns about additional landslips if the heavy rain continues.

Meanwhile, another problem emerged near Kulkunda, where rainwater collected in an elephant trench constructed by the forest department. The accumulated water began overflowing towards nearby residential areas, creating anxiety among local residents.

The overflowing water raised concerns about possible flooding of houses if the rainfall persisted and the water level in the trench continued to rise.

With several roads affected, houses inundated and minor landslides reported, the torrential rain caused widespread disruption across Kukke Subrahmanya and its surrounding areas. Residents and travellers remained on alert as the weather conditions continued to pose challenges throughout the day.