Venur: More than 15 families have been evacuated as the Belthangady-Moodbidri State Highway is covered in rainwater, forcing the Moodbidri Police, the linemen and the local youngsters to strive till 3 am on Thursday to ensure the people and their cattle reached safer venues. No casualty has been reported so far.

Rainwater is feared to have entered most of the houses near a temple and a mosque in Maruru village situated within the administration limits of Moodbidri Town Municipality limits, causing heavy losses for the people. The buses in the area were seen stranded in the rainwater near the Venur Church. As the rescue teams successfully continued their operation incessantly, the buses successfully reached the bus stand in Venur at 1.30 am on Thursday.

Farmers too are complaining of losses as an excessively high quantity of water from places like Venur, Hosangadi and Angarakari has slowed on the bridges and dams here and further seeped into plantations and fields situated in several areas. Loss of crop has been reported from Kajottu, Mattu Poocherlekki, Derar, Pade Arladka, Thorpu Anektu Peri, Jangar and Kodamani Kodingeri, as rainwater has entered not only house and huts but also the fields in these areas.

A minor bridge near Maladi Sonandur village of Belthangady taluk also collapsed in the rainwater flurry.

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Mumbai (PTI): Two persons suffered injuries after a fire broke out in the kitchen of a hotel in south Mumbai on Sunday afternoon, civic officials said.

The incident occurred around 4.30 pm at the Colaba Social Bar and Restaurant located on Boman Beharam Marg behind the Taj Hotel, they said.

A fire erupted in the kitchen area of the hotel located in the basement of a five-storey building, a civic official said.

The fire brigade sent a team to the spot and brought the blaze under control by 4.56 pm.

Two persons sustained injuries in the accident. One of them, Sunil Singh (28), suffered five per cent burns and took discharge against medical advice, while the other victim, Subrat Barai (35), has been admitted to Saint George Hospital with 15 per cent burns.

Barai is said to be in a stable condition, officials said, adding that the cause of the fire is being ascertained.