Karnataka rain: Holiday for schools, PU colleges in Dakshina Kannada district on July 18 in view of orange alert

A tree fell on a transformer following heavy rains in Mangaluru on July 17, 2026. | Photo Credit: H S MANJUNATH The Dakshina Kannada district administration on Friday declared a holiday for all schools, pre-university colleges and anganwadis on Saturday July 18 in view of an orange alert. The holiday applies to all government and private educational institutions, including residential pre-university colleges.Dakshina Kannada district recorded 70.1 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on July 17, against the normal rainfall of 46 mm for the period.The maximum rainfall of 120.4 mm was recorded in Mangaluru taluk and the minimum 46.6 mm in Belthangady taluk, according to the Dakshina Kannada Disaster Management Authority.Ullal taluk recorded 120.3 mm of rainfall and Mulky taluk 98 mm during the period.Mescom’s 35 electric poles and 1.75 km-long power supply lines were damaged during the period, the authority said.A tree fell on an electrical transformer near St. Agnes College and another tree fell near Bhagavathi temple in Kodialbail on Thursday night in the city. Baikampady Industrial Area was flooded due to heavy rain on Thursday night.Rain in UdupiUdupi district reported 88.9 mm of rainfall in the same period. The maximum rainfall of 119.7 mm was recorded in Kaup taluk and the minimum 60.9 mm in Hebri taluk.Byndoor taluk recorded 113.2 mm of rainfall and Kundapur taluk 101.5 mm.Dakshina Kannada as a whole recorded 1,101.2 mm of rainfall from January to date, against the normal 1,849.7 mm for the same period.Deficit monsoon in KarnatakaKarnataka, like many other parts of India, has recorded rainfall below normal this year.Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealing to him to consider declaring the prevailing drought situation in Karnataka as a ‘calamity of national significance’, and extend assistance commensurate with such a situation.He wrote that the southwest monsoon had remained significantly below normal across Karnataka. During June, the State recorded a 42% rainfall deficit, while Kalyana Karnataka region recorded a 36% deficit.“The rainfall deficit has continued into July, with the State registering a further 34% deficit. Even Bengaluru, the capital city, has recorded nearly 34% deficit rainfall, reflecting the widespread nature of the prevailing conditions. Preliminary assessments indicate that nearly 80% of the sown crop has been lost in several affected areas owing to inadequate rainfall and persistently high temperatures,” he wrote.Simultaneously, the inadequate groundwater recharge and increased extraction have accelerated groundwater depletion across several districts, he said. Published - July 17, 2026 11:01 pm IST