Heavy Rains: Three dead so far in Chikmagalur district; 92 houses severely damaged
Chikamagalur: In Coffenadu, the monsoon arrived later than usual this year, but the past month has been marred by severe calamities caused by heavy rainfall. A staggering 97 houses in the district have been completely destroyed, and tragically, three lives have been lost. Additionally, the torrential rains have wreaked havoc on the region's crops, with 61.73 hectares of horticultural crops and 5815 hectares of agricultural crops suffering damage due to the combination of heavy rainfall and inadequate precipitation.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a video conversation with the District Collector, Zilla Panchayat CEO regarding the heavy rains and the district administration provided complete information about the losses in the district. According to the information provided by the district administration to the state government, three people have died in the rain so far in the district.
Mukesh of Ganjikere village, Lakkavali Hobali of Tarikere taluk was killed by lightning on July 11, while Kochiho of Ambedkar Nagar, Devammaju of Daradahalli in Ambedkar nagar of Mudigere Taluk died after falling to a stream on July 19. Both the deceased have been given compensation. On June 25, Revamma of Hossiddarahalli of Kadur taluk, was found dead after being washed away in the stream. The compensation will be given after the post-mortem report.
Damage to 97 houses across the district: Due to rain, 97 houses in the district completely collapsed and were damaged. Houses were Totally damaged, in Mudigere taluk 4 houses, 3 in Chikmagalur taluk, 1 house in Koppa.
There were 26 minor damages in the district, 5 in Chikmagalur taluk, 3 in Mudigere, 2 in Koppa, 5 in NR Pura, 6 in Kadur, 3 in Tarikere and 2 in Kalasa. 652 houses were partially damaged across the district, 12 in Chikmagalur taluk, 9 in Mudigere, 8 in Sringeri, 9 in Koppa, 8 in NR pura, 2 in Kadur Tarikere, 3 in Ajjapur and 5 in Kalasa taluk.
A total of 61.73 hectares of horticulture crops grown by 183 farmers in the district were damaged. In Chikmagalur taluk one farmer owns 0.59 hectare, 59 farmers in Kadur 25.60 hectare, 10 people in Koppa taluk 3 hectares, 25 people in Narapur own 4.40 hectare, 5 farmers in Sringeri own 1.20 hectare, 51 people in Tarikere own 16.34 hectare, 31 farmers in Ajjampara own 10.60 hectare of horticulture crop was damaged.
The seeds sown by 6600 farmers of the Agriculture Department in 5815 hectare area have been damaged due to lack of timely rains. 1351 hectares in Chikmagalur taluk, 1365 hectares in Kadur and 1470 hectares in Tarikere taluk have been damaged.
80.21 km of road belonging to the Public Works Department was damaged and 36.92 crores was incurred as the road was damaged. 53.20 km in Chikmagalur Taluk with a loss of about 11.90 crore, 9.55 crore loss was recorded for 1 km of road in Mudigere, 411 km for Koppa with loss of 5.27 crore, Sringeri a stretch of 10.70 km loss of 3.70 crore, Narasimharajapura 0.70 km road incurring loose of 6 crore, 10.50 km road in Kadur was damaged causing a loss of 50 lakhs. Meanwhile In the Zilla Panchayat Engineering Department, Chikmagalur Taluk, the following road lengths have been damaged: 10.15 km road in Koppa, incurring a loss of 2.21 crore rupees, 6.05 km road in Koppa, causing a loss of 1.25 crore rupees, 124.50 km road in Moodigere, resulting in a loss of 9.95 crore rupees, 5.10 km road in N.R. Pura, with a loss of 6.87 crore rupees, 46 km road in Shringeri, leading to a loss of 3.63 crore rupees.
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Assam records nearly 18 pc voter turnout in first two hours of assembly polls
Guwahati (PTI): A voter turnout of 17.87 per cent was recorded in the first two hours of the assembly elections in Assam, where the BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power, while the Congress is striving to reclaim a state it lost a decade ago.
Polling began at 7 am for the 126-member assembly, and 17.87 per cent of the state's 2.5 crore voters exercised their franchise till 9 am, officials said.
A total of 722 candidates are in the fray for the elections, which is largely witnessing a direct contest between the BJP-led ruling coalition and the opposition bloc helmed by the Congress.
The river island of Majuli recorded the highest turnout in the first two hours at 20.03 per cent, while Tamulpur in the Bodoland Territorial Region witnessed the lowest at 15.32 per cent.
Voters began queuing outside polling booths since early morning, despite rain in many parts of the state.
Prominent candidates who have cast their votes so far include Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia in Nazira, Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi in Khowang, and BJP's Pradyut Bordoloi.
Votes are being cast at 31,490 polling stations across the 35 districts of the state, with polling concluding at 5 pm.
Among the heavyweight candidates whose fates would be decided in this election are Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi.
The Congress has fielded the highest number of candidates at 99, followed by the BJP with 90. The AIUDF has 30 candidates, while NDA constituents Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF) are contesting 26 and 11 seats, respectively.
In the opposition bloc, Raijor Dal is contesting 13 seats, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) 10, CPI(M) 3 and APHLC 2. Other parties in the fray include AAP (18), UPPL (18), TMC (22), JMM (16), besides 258 Independents.
Algapur-Katlicherra and Karimganj South have the highest number of candidates at 15 each, while nine constituencies -- Rangia, Jagiroad (SC), Hojai, Naduar, Jonai (ST), Doomdooma, Mahmora, Teok and Lakhipur -- have only two candidates each.
