Date:09/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/09/stories/2007060905440300.htm

Karnataka - Bijapur

Rain causes heavy damage to infrastructure

Staff Correspondent

Sugar stock at Hirebevanur lost; girl washed away

BIJAPUR: Though the intensity of rain has come down drastically in the last 24 hours, it has caused heavy damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and housing and industrial buildings in Bijapur and Bagalkot districts.

Jnanayogi Shivkumar Swamiji Sugars Ltd., a sugar factory at Hirebevanur village in Indi taluk, is the worst hit in the nature's fury.

According to Bijapur MP and chairman of the factory, who gave a letter to Indi tahsildar seeking "panchanama" on Thursday, the mill lost sugar and other valuables worth Rs. 11.36 crore.

Rain accompanied by gusty wind that lashed the factory area on Wednesday night blew away the godown roof, as result of which a large stock of sugar got drenched. The factory area also reportedly received hailstorms in which the main building's roof made up of cement sheets was damaged. There was 76,093 quintal of sugar in the godown when the roof collapsed.

Besides, there was 4,430 quintal of sugar in the "Sugar House" attached to the main building and another 5,125 quintal of sugar in the processing yard. In all, according to the factory's claim, sugar worth Rs. 9.42 crore has been lost.

A number of sheds housing labourers was also damaged. However, no one was hurt. Further, a large stock of gunny-bag, some electrical equipment, and chemicals were lost. However, according to factory sources, there is an insurance cover on the whole property, including the sugar stock.

This forced the factory to suspend crushing. According to Jagdish Kshatri, one of the directors, it was planned to continue crushing up to the end of June considering the surplus sugarcane in the command area. The factory crushed 2.49 lakh tonnes of sugarcane during the season and an additional 40,000 tonnes could have been crushed if this had not happened. This might adversely affect the expansion programme of the factory, he said.

Another victim

Meanwhile, rain claimed one more life in Muddebihal taluk. A nine-year-old girl identified as Savitri Narasappa Agasar of Gadisomanal village was washed away in the village-nala on Thursday.

Overflowing nalas damaged Hireotgeri and Somalapur bridges in Hungund taluk of Bagalkot district on Thursday. Also, rainwater entered some residential buildings at Somalapur, and Vajjal villages in the same taluk.