Downpour devastates Raichur district, claims couple’s lives | Hubballi News

Pics: A temporary bridge in Pattepur village of Raichur taluk was washed away by rain on Wednesday evening; A couple lost their lives when a tree was uprooted by fierce winds on Wednesday evening at the outskirts of Mudgal town in Raichur district Raichur: Intense downpour on Wednesday in Raichur district created considerable difficulties for the residents. The heavy rainfall caused a makeshift bridge to collapse, which cut off access to five villages. In a different incident, a tree fell and resulted in the death of a couple, while their three-year-old child survived.The bridge project in Pattepur village, initiated by Rural MLA Basavanagouda Daddal, remained incomplete due to pending payments to the contractor. The temporary bridge, constructed as an interim solution, was destroyed by the severe downpour.The destruction has disrupted connectivity to Pattepur, Jagir Venkatapur, Raghunathahalli, Sultanpur, and Aralappanahuda villages. This has severely affected farmers, labourers, and students who regularly travel to Raichur for education.On the outskirts of Mudgal town in Lingasugur taluk, a couple, Ramesh Guddaappa, 25, and his wife Anusuya, 22, tragically lost their lives when a tree, uprooted by strong winds, fell on them while they sought refuge from the rain. Fortunately, their daughter, Saujanya, 3, escaped with only minor injuries. The family was en route from Mudgal to Nagalapur village.In response to the situation caused by the rain, deputy commissioner Nitish K, who is also the chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, instructed district-level officials to implement precautionary measures in areas affected by landslides and floods.Considering the India meteorological department’s prediction of above-normal rainfall during the current monsoon, the DC issued directives to tahsildars, zilla panchayat, police department, local bodies, assistant commissioner, and other district and taluk level officials through an official circular.The DC emphasised the importance of swift communication to flood-prone villages and public awareness campaigns via microphones, advising residents against visiting riverbanks or leaving livestock there.“Control rooms should be opened in the district and taluk offices, and staff should be assigned to work 24 hours a day. Information should be given to the public about this, and various committees should be formed at the district and taluk levels to deal with the flood situation, and nodal officers should be assigned,” he instructed.DC Nitish also mandated that taluk-level officers and staff on rain-related duties must obtain permission from the assistant commissioner for leave. He warned of consequences under the District Disaster Management Act 2005 for any negligence in duty.