Beltangady: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds battered several parts of Beltangady taluk on Tuesday afternoon, causing widespread disruption to daily life, damaging infrastructure, uprooting trees and affecting transport and communication services across the region.

The most significant impact was reported at Ambadabettu, where a temporary bridge constructed across a stream was washed away after heavy rainfall led to a sudden rise in water levels. The temporary crossing, located within the limits of Ujire and Kanyadi-1 gram panchayats, served as a crucial link connecting Ujire with several surrounding villages. Its destruction has severed connectivity and forced residents to take lengthy alternative routes.

Temporary bridge washed away

The temporary road and bridge arrangement had been put in place to facilitate movement while a new minor bridge was being constructed at Ambadabettu. The new bridge project, being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 2.50 crore, is expected to improve connectivity between Ujire, Nidigal, Nada, Indabettu, Kolli, Guripalla and Kayyangu regions, benefiting thousands of families.

As part of the construction process, the old bridge had been dismantled and an alternative temporary road was created by filling earth alongside the bridge site. However, heavy rainfall on Tuesday evening caused the stream to overflow, resulting in nearly three feet of water flowing over the temporary road.

The force of the water washed away a substantial portion of the soil embankment supporting the temporary crossing, rendering it unusable. The incident immediately disrupted movement between Ujire and neighbouring villages.

Local residents and police personnel quickly intervened to prevent accidents by stopping vehicular movement from both sides of the road. Authorities remained on alert as residents expressed concerns that continued rainfall could completely submerge the remaining portions of the temporary route.

Residents face travel hardships

The closure of the Ambadabettu route has created significant difficulties for local residents, particularly schoolchildren and daily commuters. With the direct route cut off, people travelling to Ujire and nearby destinations are now compelled to take a detour of nearly 20 kilometres.

Residents said the temporary bridge served as a vital connection for several villages and its loss has added both time and transportation costs for commuters. Many fear that prolonged monsoon rains could further isolate the region if alternative arrangements are not made quickly.

Local villagers also voiced frustration over the pace of construction work on the new bridge. According to residents, repeated requests had been made to authorities and the contractor to complete the bridge before the arrival of the monsoon season.

However, they alleged that the construction work progressed slowly despite warnings about the challenges posed by heavy rains. Residents now fear that continued delays could leave the area struggling with connectivity issues throughout the monsoon months.

Waterlogging affects Somantadka area

The heavy rainfall also led to waterlogging in the Somantadka area of Mundaje village along the National Highway.

Rainwater accumulated rapidly after a drain in the locality became blocked, causing water to overflow onto nearby roads and surrounding areas. Water entered the frontage of several shops, creating inconvenience for business owners and customers.

Local residents blamed inadequate drainage maintenance for the situation and urged authorities to address the issue immediately to prevent similar incidents during future spells of heavy rain.

The waterlogging caused temporary disruptions to traffic movement and highlighted concerns about drainage infrastructure in the area.

Strong winds damage plantations

Apart from flooding and transport disruptions, strong winds accompanying the rain caused extensive damage to agricultural plantations across Beltangady taluk.

Hundreds of arecanut and rubber trees were reportedly uprooted or damaged in several villages. Plantation owners are assessing the extent of the losses, with many fearing significant financial setbacks if adverse weather conditions continue.

Agriculture remains a major source of livelihood in the region, and damage to mature arecanut and rubber trees could have long-term economic consequences for affected farmers.

Power and telecom services disrupted

The severe weather also affected essential services in several rural parts of Beltangady taluk. Power supply was disrupted in multiple villages after strong winds and rain damaged electrical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, mobile towers operated by private telecom companies remained non-functional for several hours, leaving residents without reliable communication services. Customers reported difficulties in making calls and accessing internet services during the outage.

The combined impact of transportation disruptions, power failures and communication issues added to the challenges faced by residents already dealing with heavy rainfall and flooding.

Conclusion

Beltangady taluk witnessed widespread disruption following Tuesday’s heavy rain and strong winds, with the washing away of the temporary bridge at Ambadabettu emerging as the most serious concern. As residents struggle with disrupted connectivity, waterlogging, crop damage and service interruptions, attention has turned towards the urgent completion of the new Rs 2.50 crore bridge project. With the monsoon season intensifying, local residents are hoping for swift action from authorities to minimise further hardships and restore normalcy in the affected areas.