Bhatkal: Heavy rain lashed Bhatkal and several parts of Uttara Kannada district on Monday, disrupting normal life and causing waterlogging in low-lying areas as the southwest monsoon intensified over Karnataka. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed the coastal districts of Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada under a red alert till June 11.

The downpour, which continued from around 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., caused considerable inconvenience to school-going children, office-goers and commuters. Water accumulated in several low-lying areas, affecting traffic movement and leaving stretches of roads partially submerged.

Heavy rain also led to muddy water entering the entrance corridor and some rooms of the Bhatkal Taluk Government Hospital, causing difficulties for patients and their attendants. Waterlogging on the main road between the Old Bus Stand and Wood Depot created hardships for pedestrians as well as two-wheeler riders.

Residents meanwhile expressed concern over the lack of adequate drainage facilities for rainwater flowing from the Makhdoom Colony hill towards the Sarabi River. According to locals, a recently constructed paved road on Bundar Road was built without a proper stormwater drainage system, causing runoff from the hillside to flow directly onto the road and turn it into a virtual stream during the downpour.

The overflowing water later entered low-lying localities, including Dongri Palli and Khizar Street, with residents reporting rainwater entering several houses in the area.

Heavy rainfall was also reported from neighbouring taluks such as Honnavar, Kumta, Gokarna and Sirsi, while rainfall in the district headquarters town of Karwar remained comparatively moderate.

The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across Coastal Karnataka over the next few days, with some places likely to receive 7 cm to 12 cm or more rain, accompanied by gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, while residents in coastal areas have been urged to remain cautious amid the continuing spell of rough weather.

According to the weather department, the active southwest monsoon and prevailing weather conditions over the Arabian Sea are expected to trigger widespread rainfall across Karnataka during the coming week, prompting red and orange alerts in several districts of the state.