Karnataka   

Floods: widespread damage in Nargund, Ron taluks

Devastation: A severely damaged bridge across Benni Halla near the flood-affected Menasigi village in Gadag district.

HOLE MANNUR (GADAG DISTRICT): Farmlands transformed into swamps, standing crops damaged by the sheer force of water current, haystacks displaced from farmlands, people without shelter forced to live on roads... this is a common sight in the flood-affected villages in Nargund and Ron taluks of Gadag district.

The displaced people were on the streets for five days as the district administration was yet to provide them shelters on Saturday. Residents of the neighbouring less-affected villages were helping them.

The district administration started putting up temporary sheds for the displace people on Sunday evening.

Scores of houses have collapsed partially or completely and dampness is likely to bring down several more in the days to come. Several grain pits (“hagevu”), built in a traditional way, have caved in damaging the foodgrains.

According to elderly people in the villages, probably this is one of the worst disasters in a century.

Laxmavva Shivappa Talawar of Hole Mannur was happy that at least they were getting food. Having left the house Tuesday with whatever they could get their hands on, Laxmavva and her family are hopeful that they will get a decent shelter before it starts raining again.

The displaced people are getting food from gruel centres and “food vehicles” of neighbouring villages. However, the worst affected are the cattle. “Some people who had a stock of fodder have allowed the displaced people to use it to feed their cattle. The stock is almost exhausted. The cattle will die of starvation if no immediate steps are taken,” said Basappa Shivappa Atad of Menasigi village.

The situation is more or less similar in Amargol, Acharkoppa, Hole Alur, Kudlikeri, Banahatti, Muganur, Hadli, Yavagal, Gangapur, Boplapur, Malawad, Radder Naganur and neighbouring villages.

Another matter of concern for the displaced people is that many farmlands close to the banks of Malaprabha river and the Benni Halla have become marshy. Even if sowing takes place in such farmlands, the chance of getting yield is difficult.

Although the Government officials have been making claims about relief work, the displaced people are not happy as not much of the relief has reached them. On Saturday, several people vented their ire against the authorities over the quality of food that was supplied to them.

Some of the displaced people at Hole Alur gheraoed the district in-charge Minister B. Sriramulu when he landed there after conducting an aerial survey of the affected areas. The method of implementing relief measures and style of functioning of the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of Gadag have already come under criticism by the elected representatives including MLA C.C. Patil.

Regional Commissioner of Belgaum Division Amita Prasad on Sunday said that 3,000 tin sheets were being transported to the affected areas.

She said steps had been taken to provide drinking water to the villages by tankers and 32 tankers had been pressed into service. The district administration had sought four day’s time to restore electricity supply in eight severely affected villages in the district, she said.

Meanwhile, it rained for some time in the flood-affected areas of Ron and Nargund taluks on Sunday.

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