The Hindu : Karnataka News : Narrow escape for 11 caught in flash floods

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka

Narrow escape for 11 caught in flash floods

Staff Correspondent

LUCKY: The three vehicles that were caught in the flash floods in the Uppinahalla near Rupanagudi village in Bellary distrit on Tuesday.

BELLARY: Eleven persons who were caught in the flash floods of the Upinahalla, between Rupanagudi and Chellagurki in Bellary taluk, for nearly four hours on Tuesday had a narrow escape. Thanks to a team, comprising the fire fighting brigade, the police and villagers, which rescued them.

Due to Monday’s heavy rain, the Uppinahalla, which joins the Vedavati river (popularly known as Hagari) was in spate.

All the eleven persons, who were travelling in three vehicles, were on their way to Bellary. When they were on a mini-bridge across the Upinahalla, the water level suddenly increased and their vehicles got stuck at around 8.30 a.m.

The water level rose up to the windshield of the vehicles, according to eyewitnesses.

Though in a state of shock, a passenger, who was carrying a cellphone, called his friend seeking help. The police, on getting information at noon, rushed to the spot with the rescue team. There had been no change in the water level even then.

Seemant Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police, told The Hindu that the area around the mini-bridge was flooded and it was slushy making rescue operations difficult.

“We arranged for a helicopter from the Indian Air Force. We also tried to get mechanised boats from Raichur, Sandur and the Dr. Rajkumar Park in the city. By then, the fire fighting brigade, the police and villagers, with the help of a rope, went up to the mini-bridge, handed over life jackets to the passengers and brought them to safety,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner B. Shivappa, Headquarters Assistant to Deputy Commissioner G.N. Shivamurthy, Additional Superintendent of Police Ashok Kurer and Deputy Superintendent of Police (Bellary Rural) G. Sangeeta among others oversaw the rescue operations.

Mr. Singh said that he had instructed his staff to keep a watch on mini-bridges and causeways expected to receive flash floods and take precautionary measures, including not allowing vehicles to pass over them when there were signs of floods.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section