Hebri Cloudburst – A disaster unlike any in memory, say elders

Team Udayavani, Oct 8, 2024, 9:47 AM IST

Karkala/Hebri: Until recently, there was serenity here, with surrounding hills serving as natural barriers and streams flowing by the houses serving as lifelines to the local community. But today, several homes that once provided shelter lay destroyed by flash floods. Worse still, the farmlands that provided livelihoods have been utterly ruined. Livestock, crucial to the survival of the farming community, are now missing. The picture from Sunday morning has drastically changed today.

On Sunday, a cloudburst-like situation resulted in flash floods in Hebri, affecting villages such as Mudradi and Kabbinale in Mudradi Gram Panchayat. Most residential areas were in chaos. Livestock was kept in sheds and items in courtyards were washed away. Household items were damaged.

Residents are now slowly trying to rebuild their lives. Many were seen trying to salvage whatever household items they could, while others were busy removing the mud that had invaded their homes.

Severe Damage to Agricultural Lands

A farmer lost 5,000 coconut trees, rubber saplings, two water pumps, and agricultural equipment to the floodwaters. The connection road between Varanga and Balladi was cut off. Many internal roads were damaged. About 25 cattle have gone missing in the Kantharabailu region.  Farmers, who lost their cows and calves, are facing a grim future.

Over 200 acres of paddy fields in areas such as Eshwar Nagar, Hansanabettu, and Varanga village in Mudradi Gram Panchayat were submerged. Officials from the Revenue, Agriculture, and Horticulture departments were assessing the damage.

Nature’s Fury Unleashed

The Hebri-Karkala region witnessed an unprecedented natural disaster, reminding residents of the power of nature. In the years they had lived amidst the Western Ghats, such an event was unheard of. The thick forests and hills that always seemed protective turned deadly. The sense of harmony with nature has been replaced by fear and uncertainty.

Completely Unanticipated 

“This is the first time we have witnessed such a disaster,” said Mudradi Gram Panchayat members Shubhadhara Shetty and Santosh Kumar Shetty. Even the elders in the community do not recall experiencing flash floods of this magnitude before.

MLA Visits the Affected Areas

Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar, Mudradi Gram Panchayat President Vasanthi Poojari, Congress leader Muniyal Uday Shetty, AC Maheshchandra, Tahsildar Prasad, and officials from the Revenue and other departments visited the flood-affected areas.

Elderly Woman Swept Away

In the Balladi area, 85-year-old Chandra Gowdthi, a resident of Neeral Palke, was swept away by floodwaters while standing outside her house. Her body was found in the river on Monday. Her daughter, who was inside the house, panicked and called out for her mother, but by the time she rushed out, her mother had disappeared. Family members were attending a meeting nearby, and upon returning, they searched for her but to no avail. The woman had come to her daughter’s house just four days earlier.

Boulders and Vehicles Swept Away

The force of the water swept a massive boulder into the middle of a paddy field. A car that was caught in the rushing floodwaters was found stuck against areca trees, which had toppled. A bike that had been swept away was recovered once the waters receded.

Mysterious Noise a Month Ago

A resident of Kapoli near Kabbinale reported hearing a loud noise about a month ago that caused his house to shake. A similar noise had been heard two months ago in the Balladi region, residents said. Some recalled hearing such noises in the Madikeri region before a flood had struck there.

Scenes Reminiscent of Wayanad

When locals looked outside their homes, they were reminded of the devastating floods in Wayanad. The sight of massive rocks, motorcycles, and cars floating in the floodwaters terrified them. Prabhakar and his wife, who had retreated inside their home, were rescued using a 20-foot ladder and a long rope tied to a tree in a heart-stopping scene. “I have never seen such a flood in my life,” said eyewitness Shyam Shetty.