On Thursday morning, farmer Mabusab Rajesab Nadaf (70) and his wife Hasanbi (66) left for their field on the outskirts of Navalgund town to check their groundnut and chilli crops. They remained in the field till night as the flash floods in Tuparihalla, Bennihalla and Hucchanagoudar Saravu streams submerged their fields.
Their son Abdulsab Nadaf, who came to the field to give butthi (lunch) to his parents, was baffled to see his parents trapped in the submerged field. Abdulsab remained a mute spectator to his parents’ plight. Their field is near to the confluence of Bennihalla and Tuparihalla streams.
The heavy rain in Dharwad area on Wednesday night led to an increase in the inflow into the streams creating a flood-like situation.
“They were asked to take rest in a cottage in the field. I am still waiting for them with ‘butthi’ as they are in the fields without food for the last 10 hours,” Abdulsab told Deccan Herald, adding he had asked his parents not to go to the field as it had rained heavily on
Wednesday night, but they did not listen.
By evening, taluk officials reached the spot. The Fire brigade was called and floodlights were arranged for rescue operations. Expert swimmers from Ron, along with boats brought from Dharwad, rescued the farmer couple. Navalgund tahsildar Vinayak Palankar supervised the operations which continued till night.
In a similar incident, agriculture worker Mailarappa (Muttu) Sunagar (25) was caught in the waters of the Tuparihalla stream at Byalyala village on Thursday. Five others, including Rayappa Madar, Revanasiddappa Ronadh and Erangouda Kenchangoudar, were stranded in their fields at Shirkol due to floods in Tuparihalla stream. By evening, all people were rescued.
Flood in drought-hit area
Navalgund taluk, which has been declared drought-hit, is now facing a flood situation.
Fields adjacent to Tuparihalla and Bennihalla streams are submerged. On Thursday, it was not raining in Navalgund during the day, but dark clouds were seen by evening and it was drizzling by night.
At Kongwad village in the taluk, Asare houses have been constructed for the flood-affected, but only a few people have shifted there as they say the houses are too small.