Rain havoc in Navalgund, Bennihalla Overflows

DHARWAD

Torrential rainfall in Navalgund taluk and surrounding areas of Dharwad district caused severe disruption on Thursday, with overflowing streams and tanks inundating villages, damaging homes and crops, and claiming one life.

A tragic incident occurred between Hanchinal and Devanur in Kundgol taluk, where a tractor carrying three people was swept away by floodwaters. Shivaiah Vatnalmath (29) of Kundgol died in the accident, while Vasudev Haibatti and Mallikarjun escaped unharmed.

Heavy rains led to the Bennihalla and Tupparihalla streams overflowing, flooding agricultural lands and destroying recently sown crops. In Yamanur village, water from an overflowing tank entered homes and flooded a farmhouse. Fire and emergency services rescued Basavaraj Bhandari and his family using a motorboat.

Several villages, including Tirlapur, Arekurahatti, Ballur, Javoor, and Hanasi, experienced severe flooding. In Arekurahatti, floodwaters entered homes, damaging food supplies and daily essentials. In Ballur, a school campus was submerged.

Rainwater inundated 23 houses and affected 48 more in villages such as Gummagol, Byalyal, Morab, Alagawadi, Halakusugal, Sotakanal, Boganur, and Datanal. Key offices, including the HESCOM sub-division and LIC office in Navalgund town, were also flooded.

In Halakusugal, the Gauri stream overflowed, and a group of labourers returning from the fields became stranded while attempting to cross it.

The region recorded 125 mm of rainfall in a single day—its heaviest in two decades—leaving officials and residents scrambling to manage the aftermath of nature’s fury. Rescue and relief operations are underway.