Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Aug 14: Many areas have suffered extensive damage due to the incessant rains that lashed many districts of north Karnataka, Malnad and Coastal regions of the state. Resolving the issues created by the flood is the biggest challenge the Chief Minister (CM) of the state B S Yediyurappa is facing at the moment.
As many as 21 bridges in 30 districts of the state have got damaged. Due to this the connection between towns and villages is completely broken. It is not possible to assess the exact extent of damage that is caused by the deluge. However, according to the primary survey, around 16,400 km long roads are damaged. Out of which, 2,400 km of roads are completely destroyed, which need to be constructed newly.
It is not possible to run vehicles on 253 bridges in the state. Locals have to cover an additional distance of 20 to 50 km because of no access through these bridges. According to Guruprasad, secretary of PWD department, the officials of the PWD department are trying to connect the roads by using the mixture of powdered stones.
Guruprasad further said, "Sand bags are laid on the bridges which are broken. The PWD needs Rs 1,500 crore to complete all the work. However, the level of water has not receded in many places. Hence, it is not possible to assess the damage in those areas. The exact information will be known in few days’ time. Huge amount of money is required to repair the basic infrastructure."
This deluge is the biggest for the year 2019. North Karnataka, Malnad and coastal region have suffered the most due to the incessant rains and the subsequent floods that followed. As of Tuesday, August 13, 54 people have died and 15 are still missing. As many as 6.77 lac people of 100 taluks are shifted to safer places. According to NDRF, 2,217 villages are affected due to the deluge.
A bridge that was built at a cost of Rs 4.5 crores, just six months ago, at Khanapur of Belagavi got washed away in the deluge. The quality of work is also in question now.