Torrential rain triggers floods, land slips and protest in Uttara Kannada

Karwar - 18 July 2011: Heavy rain has lashed the coastal areas for over 48 hours. Uttara Kannada bore the brunt, and there was widespread destruction in the district.

Three houses collapsed in Ankola taluk, an entire village in the outskirts of Karwar was flooded and 10 houses were partially damaged during the rainfall.

Several villages in Ankola taluk have been flooded, forcing villagers to take shelter in schools and other public buildings located in elevated places. The district administration has opened three 'Ganji Kendras' in these villages.

In Gaonkarkeri, eight houses suffered extensive damage. People in the affected villages have moved out to safer places. At many places, the district administration deployed fibre boats belonging to the NCC naval wing with the help of home guards and the police.

In Karwar taluk, villages, including Chendiya and Idoor, were completely inundated. In Idoor, over 25 houses were flooded, and 500 m of road connecting the village with the Karwar-Ankola Road has been washed away during the flood.

Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada district, BN Krishnaiah, said: "The volume of rain this monsoon has been heavier in the last three days. This has caused problems in many areas in the district, including Karwar and Ankola taluks. But steps have been taken to ensure the safety of the residents in those areas. We expect more rains during the next 48 hours, and we have kept the disaster management team and machinery ready."

In a meeting held earlier on Saturday, Krishniah summoned the officials of Kadamba naval base to assess the flood problems being caused by the perimeter wall of the naval base.

"A part of the perimeter wall abutting the road leading into Karwar has been unscientifically constructed. Many a time, the district administration has asked the naval base to rectify the problem by constructing storm water drains from the shoulders of the road into the sea, but that has not been done. This time, the officials from the base have been summoned to the problem spot to inspect the place along with the PWD," said Karwar City Municipal Council president Ganapati Ulvekar.

"The entire road leading to the city from Binaga Industrial Estate has been acting as one large SWD, as tall walls have been built all along the road on both sides. The industrial units and the naval base had not taken care to allow sufficient space for the storm water to flow freely into the sea," he said.

In Kumta, rivers cross danger mark and several areas flooded following heavy downpour. People have been evacuated from low lying areas and 'Ganji Kendras' have been formed. The local MLA has visited the affected areas.

Rain water from the ghats has been flowing into Aghanashini, Badagani, Chandika rivers which crossed the danger level on Saturday July 16 midnight. As a consequence, Divagi, Manakona, Harakade, Mirjana, Kalmatti, Taaribaagila, Halakara, Malavalli, Hegade, Shiragunji, Kuduvalli, Bogribailu, Uppinapattana, Karkimakki, Kimani, Aghanashini, Konalli, Kojalli, Lukkeri, Masur, Chittekambi, Aigalakurve, Hondadahukkala, Suvarna Gadde, Manikatta, Mastihalla and Alakoda areas have been flooded and many houses and plantations are waterlogged.

Kumta-Sirsi route was blocked for some time. A house collapsed in Lukkeri.

People from Divagi, Mirjanam, Hegade panchayat limits were shifted to safer areas by boats. MLA Dinakar Shetty is in touch with nodal officers of respective places.

Around 150 people of 40 families in Divagi, 98 people of 32 families in Maakona, 95 members of 28 families in Harakade have been given place to stay at Ganji Kendras. Lots of youth are voluntarily working hard in flooded areas. Many donors, social organizations, unions have come forward to help the flood victims.

Bhatkallys News Bureau