Karnataka government reduces flood damage estimate by 3,290 crore
Bengaluru, Sept 17: Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka Tuesday said the state has reduced its flood damage estimate by Rs 3,290 crore RPT Rs 3,290 crore after the union government objected to inclusion of private buildings that were affected.
"We had sent estimates, including private building losses...like private hospitals, schools. So today we are sending (flood damage estimate) after revising it from the earlier Rs 38,451.11 crore to Rs 35,160.81 crore. Now we have deleted private buildings as the centre had objected to it," Ashoka told reporters here.
The union government would release the amount as per the rules, he said and expressed the hope it would be done soon.
As many as 103 taluks in 22 districts were affected due to floods last month, in which over 80 people were killed.
Around seven lakh people were shifted to safe areas and lakhs of houses were damaged.
Opposition parties, including the Congress and JD(S) have hit out at BJP governments at the centre and the state over the 'delay' in release of funds, despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the inter-ministerial central team visiting the affected areas.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah had on Sunday alleged that the centre has sent back the state's memorandum, seeking some clarifications and sought to know what difficulty Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in announcing the interim relief.
The revenue minister noted that a delegation of revenue department officials would head to Delhi to follow up with the centre on flood relief.
He maintained the state government has already released money for immediate relief and that central funds would be needed for rehabilitation of those displaced in the future.
The government hiked the ex-gratia from Rs 3,800 to Rs 10,000 per household to provide immediate relief to the flood affected, providing Rs 6,200 from the exchequer.
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Tribal man brings dead sister's skeleton to bank to withdraw money from her account
Keonjhar (PTI): A tribal man in Odisha's Keonjhar district on Monday brought the skeleton of his dead sister to a bank to withdraw the money deposited in her name, police said.
The incident occurred at Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank located at Patana block of Keonjhar district. The man was identified as Jeetu Munda (50) of Dianali village. He was seeking to withdraw Rs 20,000 from the bank account of his elder sister, Kalra Munda (56), who died on January 26, 2026.
"I have run several times to the bank, and the people there told me to bring the account holder to withdraw money deposited in her name. Though I told them that she had died, they did not listen to me and insisted on bringing her to the bank. Therefore, out of frustration, I dug the grave and brought out her skeleton as proof of her death," an illiterate Jeetu Munda told reporters.
Patana Police Station Inspector in charge (IIC) Kiran Prasad Sahu, who reached the bank after getting information, said, "Jeetu is an illiterate tribal man. He does not know what the legal heir or nominee is. The bank officials have failed to make him understand the procedure to withdraw money from the dead person's account."
However, after the incident, the police assured Jeetu Munda that they would facilitate the withdrawal of money from the bank account of his dead sister. Later, the skeleton was again buried at the graveyard in presence of police.
Meanwhile, local Block Development Officer (BDO) Manas Dandpat said that he was not approached by anyone for the legal heir of late Kalra Munda. "Today only, I came to know about it. We will see what can be done to resolve the issue," the BDO said.
Meanwhile, bank sources said that the nominee in Kalra Munda's bank account was also dead. Therefore, Jeetu Munda was the lone claimant over the money deposited in her name.
The local administration has directed the bank officers to make arrangements and ensure that Jeetu Munda, who is the only claimant as per the rules, gets the money as soon as possible.
