Relentless rains that battered Dakshina Kannada in May have left a trail of destruction across the district’s government schools. As many as 125 school buildings suffered structural damage, severely affecting the functioning of classes.
According to Dakshina Kannada DDPI Govinda Madiwala, the worst-hit taluks were Bantwal and Belthangady, with 62 and 41 schools damaged respectively. Losses have been pegged at ₹1.5 crore in Bantwal and ₹98 lakh in Belthangady alone.
Other affected regions include Sullia (7 schools), Kadaba (4 schools), Puttur, Moodbidri, and Ullal (1 school each). Two schools in Mangaluru taluk also reported damage, while Mulki escaped unscathed.
Most of the affected school buildings had tiled roofs, which couldn’t withstand the heavy rainfall and strong winds. Leaking roofs and waterlogged classrooms have made it impossible to conduct regular sessions. “We’ve estimated a total loss of ₹2.92 crore in May alone,” said Madiwala, noting that a detailed report would soon be submitted to the District Disaster Management Committee.
While minor repairs have already been initiated to allow basic classes to continue, major restoration work remains pending due to lack of funds. “There is a provision to release ₹2 lakh per school from the Calamity Relief Fund. We are also seeking financial support from the state government,” the DDPI added.
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