Heavy rains lash Udupi district; Normal life disrupted, roads submerged
Udupi: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashed various parts of Udupi district since early Tuesday morning, throwing normal life out of gear. The downpour disrupted vehicular movement and severely affected daily activities in Udupi and Manipal.
On the Udupi–Manipal National Highway 169A, between INOX Manipal and Syndicate Circle, rainwater washed away the soil that had been filled along the roadside, creating a dangerously deep trench. The displaced mud and rocks flowed toward the Lakshmindranagar area, covering the road with slush and debris, which hindered vehicle movement. Traffic was diverted temporarily due to the condition of the road.
In Lakshmindranagar, muddy water overflowed from drains and entered nearby shops. Commercial establishments located on the lower floors of the Central Park complex near INOX were flooded with slush and debris, causing significant damage. Municipal workers rushed to the spot and carried out a clearance operation using JCB machines.
Several roads in Udupi city were also waterlogged, leading to traffic snarls. Water was seen flowing across stretches of the National Highway at Kadiyali and Kunjibettu. Devotees from other districts and states who had come to visit the Sri Krishna Math in Udupi faced considerable difficulties. Rainwater accumulation on National Highway 66 also led to major inconveniences for commuters.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
