Manipal has often been synonymous with strong monsoons. Every year they result in potholes on several roads including the 87 kilometre-long national highway 169A connecting Malpe and Udupi. The incessant downpour in and around the region leads to an average rainfall of nearly 500 cms. The heaviest rainfall is experienced from June to August while months from September to February witness light drizzles.“Deep potholes, broken auto parts and orderly repairing of vehicles has been a monotony for the past ten years,” said N Reddy, an auto-rickshaw driver in Manipal for over three decades. Passengers, especially patients going to the Kasturba Medical College (KMC) Hospital are severely irked by bumpy rides.In a bid to draw the attention of the National Highway Department towards the pathetic plight of the roads, former municipal councillor Nityananda Volakadu wore a raincoat and swam in one of the potholes on August 8.