Yahya Hallare
Daijiworld Media Network – Bhatkal (EP)
Bhatkal, Jul 20: Though the flood-like situation in Bhatkal has eased, the locals are struggling to recover from the loss and destruction the rains have caused. The rains decreased in intensity on Monday July 20, but the destruction has been so severe that the total loss is estimated to have crossed Rs one crore.
Moodabadkala which was inundated in the sudden rush of rainwater has returned to normal. More than fifty people who took shelter from the rain in Mutalli gram panchayat building have gone back to their houses.
The roads at Chouthani and Mundalli are washed away. Rain water has entered more than 200 houses in Daranta, Salmanabad, Ghousiya Street, Murudeshwar, Bengre, Mundalli and other places.
Meanwhile, the search for Zulfiq who was washed away in floods on Sunday July 10 has continued. It is hoped that the body may wash up at Balake, Gorate, Mundalli Nastara, Talagoda or the nearby seashore.
Lack of drainage has made the rainwater from Bhatkal Anjuman hill lose direction and enter agricultural land in Hurulisal, causing destruction of crops. Water has entered the plywood shop belonging to Abdul Azeez near Bhatkal circle and other shops beside the road and caused loss worth several lacs.
Paddy fields in Murdeshwar have become waterlogged, resulting in damage to crops.
Fishermen were seen struggling to save their boats from floods.
Officials on Monday started surveying the extent of destruction in the taluk. Bhatkal sub-divisional officer Chidananda Vatare, tahsildar V N Badkar, taluk panchayat executive officer C T Naik visited the places affected by floods along with other officials and evaluated the situation. The work to repair damaged road will be taken up immediately on a temporary basis and details will be submitted to the district administration within the next 6-7 days, said the officials.
Two teams consisting of officials from the department of agriculture, horticulture, zilla panchayat and PWD will be formed for survey work, said sources in tahsildar's office.
Party leaders visit affected places
Several political leaders visited the affected places and heard grievances of the people. Zilla panchayat member Abdurrahim, block Congress president Vittal Naik, Mahabaleshwar Naik, Neelavari Ansari, BJP leaders Govinda Naik, Krishna Naik Asarakeri, Janata Dal leaders Inayitulla Shabandri and Krishnananda Pai urged the officials to expedite the remedial measures.
Leaders of Majlise-Islam-va-Tanzeem, vice-president S M Parvez and secretary Altaf Kharoor visited the affected houses and distributed relief material.