Artificial flood from blocked estuary inundates houses

Artificial flood caused by the blocking of an estuary at Bettampady in Someshwara inundated many houses in the vicinity, on Tuesday.

Normally, after monsoon, water gets impounded near the estuary. Along with waves, sand dunes also get collected and thus block the estuary. The panchayat desilts the channels with the help of excavators, to ensure that water joins the sea. Unfortunately, the work on clearing the channels was not taken up this year, leading to inundation of the entire vicinity.

Fearing the raid by Ullal Police against illegal sand extraction, the excavators are backtracking from taking up the work, said villagers.

Due to the block, water level increased, leaving the residents trapped in their houses. Even a railway underbridge had been inundated, forcing the residents to walk beside the railway track.

Highlighting the prevailing condition, Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike President Siddiq Talapady had posted a video clip on social media. Tahsildar Guruprasad rushed to the spot and directed Panchayat officials to initiate measures to clear the block.

Someshwar Gram Panchayat President Rajesh Ucchil said that the panchayat had been initiating measures to clear the block in estuary every year. “We had not received complaint on blockage this year. The block in the estuary had resulted in marooning of the houses. The Gram Panchayat will initiate measures to clear the blocks,” he promised.