•  Western Coast in peril

By Team Mangalorean

MANGALORE, November 10, 2009: After North Karnataka drowning fully in the rain waters only last month it is time of the Western Coast to experience heavy to very heavy rains, accompanied with gusty winds and thunderstorms for next 48 hours. Mangalore and Udupi are expected to face the brunt of the onslaught of the rains.

Sources in the Met Department in Bangalore say that the disturbance has been caused by a depression over the Arabian Sea and a low lying trough over Lakshdweep islands. As a result stormy conditions will prevail over the Western Coast for more than 48 hours. This in addition to the heavy stormy conditions due to the receding monsoon will worsen the weather in Mangalore, Udupi, Kasargod, Karwar and parts of Goa and South Interior Karnataka.

The warning sent out by the department has also mentioned that the conditions in the sea will be turbulent and has advised the fishermen not to venture into the sea, those who are already in the sea should immediately return to the shore. In accordance with the warning the Fisheries department has sent out messages to the fishing boats to return to shore.

According to the Deputy Director of the Fisheries department Mr. Suresh Kumar messages have been sent via VHF messaging system and it is has been made sure that every fishing vessel has received it. Some of them have already begun retreat while few more are in the processing of winding up. There are about 600 fishing vessels currently in the sea from Mangalore port while another 500 are there who have left from Malpe fishing port.

In the meanwhile many schools and colleges in the city are holding their annual sports meet in various sports fields and in Mangala stadium may run into trouble. The first blast of thunderstorm is to hit Mangalore by afternoon confirm met office.