At least eight people were killed after Tauktae cyclone pounded the coastal and Malnad districts of Karnataka with heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds.
In a tragic incident, a tugboat ‘Alliance’ capsized on Saturday in high seas off Mangaluru coast. Three of the eight-member crew were rescued by locals after they floated ashore using tubes but two were found dead, while three are still missing.
A chopper has landed in Mangalore airport on Monday to carry out the rescue operation of those nine members on board the tugboat, ‘Coromandel’ that had drifted after being cut loose from its anchorage point outside New Mangalore Port (NMP) due to Cyclone Tauktae and got struck near Mulki Rocks, located four miles away from Mulki coast, said Deputy Commissioner Dr K V Rajendra. The rescue operations began on Monday.
The tug had drifted in rough sea and the Indian Coast Guard and Coastal Security Police personnel could not take up rescue operation owing to the rough sea with waves upto a height of six mts) and wind speed being above 25 knots. As a result, they remained stranded in the tug.
ICG’s vessel INS Varaha is just 500 metres away from Mulki Rocks and is closely monitoring the situation.
In the meantime, the rain stopped in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. The sky remained overcast.
The effects of Tauktae are likely to be felt in the state up to May 20, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Bengaluru.
The rough sea and gusty wind following the cyclone have caused extensive damages to structures, houses and roads along the coast in Dakshina Kannada district. Owing to the effect of Cyclone Tauktae, the district has been receiving heavy rain since Saturday.
The streams and rivulets are in spate. There has been a significant rise in the level of River Cauvery in Kadanuru and Betri.
“In the last 24 hours in Dakshina Kannada district due to heavy rains and winds triggered by Cyclone Tauktae, 14 houses were totally damaged and about 108 houses partially damaged”, said the District Minister In-charge Kota Srinivas Poojary during the emergency meeting held on Sunday night.
BJP State President and Lok Sabha member Nalin Kumar Kateel said, “The NDRF, SDRF and Police department should identify the affected areas and shift the people to safer places. MESCOM staff should be prepared to face any situation arising because of Cyclone Tauktae.”
