Crumbled walls, cattle scattered on roads, children running to gruel centres with empty plates in their hands are a common sight in Navalgund in Dharwad district and Naragund taluk in Gadag district.
The rains that lashed the district continuously for a week has destroyed crops including onion, chilli, cotton and maize.
In Saradgi (Naragund taluk) alone more than 600 houses have collapsed. Villagers, who are living in temporary shelters, are afraid to go back to their houses fearing that the soaked houses may collapse at anytime.
Kariyappa Gurjar from this village said he and his family members had to drink rain water dripping from the roof.
Kurlageri, a tiny village situated on the banks of Bennihalli is one of the most affected villages in Naragund taluk. A part of the village was completely submerged in the Bennihalli flood. Even the only government school was surrounded by water, forcing people to walk 8 km to reach Naragund.
The district administration reached this village only on Friday. A local philanthropist, S H Bhimreddy, served food to the villagers for the first three days. The government started a gruel centre on Sunday.
The story of Lakamapur and Budihal in the taluk is no different.
People of Gudisagar, Naganur, Sotaknal, Kadahalli, Aratti, Tadahal and Kongwad in Navalgund taluk are still battling for survival as the only road connecting them to the outside world is submerged by the Gundignahalla, a stream passing nearby.
“We have no shelter and food. Our cattle have also been starving for the last five days, and they are not allowing us to go nearby them,” said Shivappa Marabad with tears in his eyes.
The total loss caused by the rains and floods is being assessed by the officials.
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