Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady

Beltangady, Jul 30: A 73-year-old man who was stranded in the middle of the Kapila river at Badigudde in Shishila was safely rescued by members of the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Shaurya Disaster Management team on Tuesday.

The elderly man, identified as Balappa (73), was trapped in the river as the water flow increased significantly due to heavy rainfall. Some local youths noticed him stranded in the middle of the river and immediately alerted the local Shaurya disaster management team.

Team members Radhakrishna Guttu and Ramesh Bairakatta, along with local expert swimmer Mohana Gowda Badrijalu, rushed to the spot. Balappa was stuck between two branches of the Kapila river, approximately 900 metres downstream from the Shishileshwara temple vented dam. The rescue team provided him with a life jacket and safely brought him to the riverbank using ropes. Umesh Kukke, Rupesh Baipadi, and Dinesh Badigudde assisted in the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, the taluk witnessed heavy downpours on Wednesday, leading to a significant rise in the water level of the Netravati river. In Ujire, drain water flooded the roads, causing severe inconvenience to motorists and the general public.

Locals pointed out that the drainage work on this stretch of the national highway remains incomplete. With the continuous rainfall over the past few days, the drains have overflowed as plastic waste and debris are obstructing the water flow. The public has urged the authorities to immediately clear the drains and take necessary measures to ensure the smooth flow of rainwater.