Heavy rains submerge plantations, farmer drowns in Devagondanahalli

Chikkamagaluru  : Continuous heavy rainfall in Chikkamagaluru district has wreaked havoc across rural areas, submerging coconut and areca plantations and causing widespread distress to farmers. In a tragic incident, a farmer was found drowned in a rain-swollen stream in Devagondanahalli village.

According to local reports, Lakshmanagowda, who had gone to tend his cattle, did not return home. On Thursday, his body was discovered in the village stream. Officials suspect that he may have slipped while crossing the waterlogged area. The Grama Rural Police Station has registered a case and is investigating the circumstances of the accident.

The Kaduru taluk has received the heaviest rainfall over the past three to four days. Streams and small rivulets have overflowed due to relentless downpour, flooding farmland and plantations. Coconut and areca gardens have been submerged, while vegetable crops have been entirely destroyed, leaving farmers in financial distress.

The incessant rains also disrupted rail services between Kaduru and Chikkamagaluru on Thursday. Near Kanive village, the track was damaged due to waterlogging, temporarily halting a train departing from Chikkamagaluru towards Shivamogga. After clearing the debris and repairing the track for about half an hour, train services resumed smoothly.

Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution near flooded streams and rivers, particularly in low-lying areas, and have advised farmers to safeguard livestock and avoid venturing into waterlogged fields. Emergency services and local officials continue to monitor water levels and assist affected villagers.

This episode highlights the vulnerability of rural Chikkamagaluru to heavy post-monsoon rains, with agricultural losses compounding the district’s challenges. Residents are calling for urgent relief measures and infrastructural support to protect farmland, crops, and livelihoods from further rain-related damage.

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