Bengaluru: Monsoon have been wreaking havoc across India, and Karnataka too has not been spared. At least 73 people were killed while more than 7,000 have been displaced by heavy floods and rain-related incidents over a month. They have been sheltered in 75 relief camps in the state.
“As many as 73 people lost their lives: 15 deaths died of lightning strikes, five from a tree collapse, 19 were killed when a house collapsed, 24 were swept away in rivers, nine were buried in a landslide and one was electrocuted. These incidents occurred from June 1 to August 7,” Revenue Minister R Ashoka said at a press conference on Monday.
He said 161 villages in 14 districts were badly affected by the heavy rains, and floods displaced 21,727 people in recent days. In all, 8,197 people were moved to safer areas, Ashoka said, adding that 75 relief camps have been opened to accommodate 7,386 people.
The minister said 666 houses were totally damaged while 2,949 were severely damaged and 17,750 houses were partially damaged. Agriculture crops in 1,29,087 hectares and horticulture crops in 7,942 hectares were damaged, the minister said.
The rains also laid waste 11,768km of road, 1,152 bridges and culverts, 122 primary health centres, 2,249 anganwadi [kindergarten] centres and 95 irrigation lakes. “We have directed the deputy commissioners to intensify the relief work. The districts have a fund of 8.570 billion rupees for relief works,” Ashoka added.
The minister said 500,000 rupees have been given as compensation to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in flood-related incidents, which includes 400,000 rupees from the National Disaster Response Fund. People who lost their houses completely will be given 500,000 rupees, while people whose houses were severely and partially damaged will be given 300,000 and 50,000, respectively, as compensation.
