Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady

Beltangady, Aug 1: Torrential rain pounded Beltangady taluk from the early hours of Friday, triggering widespread flooding, overflowing rivers, a landslide, and mounting fears of further destruction as the downpour continued unabated across the region.

As forecast, heavy rain lashed the entire taluk throughout the morning, with the Netravathi river at Dharmasthala and almost every other river flowing through the taluk running bank-full. The relentless rise in water levels has heightened flood fears among residents living along riverbanks, many of whom remain on edge as the rain shows little sign of easing.

Adding to the anxiety, strong winds have swept through parts of the taluk, raising concerns among people residing near forest fringes over the possibility of large trees being uprooted or crashing onto homes and roads.

Floodwaters from a local river submerged a stretch of the Beltangady–Killoor Road near Puthrabailu, severely disrupting vehicular movement. Elsewhere, the retaining wall of the Sion Ashram at Neriya collapsed under the impact of the incessant rain, resulting in property damage.

Across the taluk, water has overtopped most of the low-level check dams, cutting off road connectivity at several locations and leaving residents struggling to move between villages.

Overflowing streams, rivulets and roadside drains have also inundated parts of the main road in several areas. In Navooru Pete, rainwater entered shops after drains overflowed, causing losses and inconvenience to traders.

The Mundaje region has been among the worst affected, with exceptionally heavy rainfall causing rivers and streams to overflow into paddy fields and plantations. Floodwaters have entered several houses, while vast stretches of farmland remain submerged, leaving farmers increasingly worried about extensive crop damage and financial losses.

In another setback, a landslide occurred on the Mundaje–Dharmasthala Road, forcing the suspension of traffic along the route. Meanwhile, rainwater inundated sections of the Ujire–Dharmasthala National Highway, where water flowed across the carriageway like a river, posing a serious hazard to motorists.

Reports of rain-related damage have emerged from various parts of Beltangady taluk, with authorities continuing to assess the extent of the destruction. As the relentless rain persists, fear and uncertainty continue to grip residents amid growing concerns that flooding, landslides and further damage to infrastructure could worsen in the coming hours.