Flood-hit parts of Bantwal limp back to normalcy

The floods on Thursday inundated 68 houses and 206 people living in those houses were safely rehabilitated. Losses are estimated to be about Rs 25 lakhs.

The road connectivity between Bantwal and Panerpete was cut off along with Bantwal-Kadur National Highway.

On Thursday evening the level of water in river Nethravati started subsiding and on Friday the flood-hit areas returned to normalcy.

Repair works were taken up in war footing basis in the affected areas on Friday. Clearing the uprooted trees, cleaning of drains, rectification of electricity and telephone lines were done immediately. Two teams of Health department visited house to house and spoke about using bleaching powder and other health tips for the affected families. Since contaminated water had flown into wells, the health officials told the families to drink only boiled water.

Second worst

A devastating flood had occurred in 1974 in Bantwal. The local residents say that this is the second killer flood that they have experienced in their lives.

Sanjeevanna, an elderly from Jakribettu says that he had not seen a frightening flood like that of 74. The flood of Thursday was though lesser in intensity from the 1974 flood, but it reminded him of the fatal floods.

G Ibrahim from Bogodi in Panemangalur too had similar experience. He says that the floods of Thursday reminded him of 74 floods.

Damages

In Belthangady property worth Rs 16.43 lakh has been lost due to the heavy rains that lashed over the last two days. Revenue department has lost property worth Rs 13.43 lakhs while Mescom has lost Rs 3 lakh. As many as 30 houses in Belthangady have been damaged. One person and six cattle have died. Areca, coconut, rubber and paddy in 153 hectare have been lost.

In Puttur taluk the losses have ran up to one crore. Revenue Department has registered about 44 cases so far.

The rains have started lashing from beginning of June but the initial rains did not cause any damages. Over the last three days the number of damages have shot up drastically and at Ichlampady alone property worth Rs 85,000 has been lost.