Byndoor: A residential house belonging to a financially distressed family completely collapsed following continuous heavy rainfall at Arehole in Navunda village of Byndoor taluk early Thursday morning. The occupants, who were asleep when the incident occurred, escaped unhurt after rushing out of the house.
The house belonged to Sadashiva Ganiga and his family. The structure reportedly collapsed at around 5.30 am under the impact of the persistent downpour. Household belongings and food grains stored inside the house were buried beneath the debris.
Couple escapes as house caves in
Sadashiva Ganiga and his wife were sleeping inside the house when they were startled by a loud sound in the early hours of Thursday.
As the walls and roof began to give way, the couple immediately realised the danger and rushed outside. Their quick response helped them escape without sustaining injuries.
Moments later, the entire structure collapsed, leaving the family without a home.
The household articles and food grains stored inside were reportedly completely buried under the debris. The collapse has resulted in significant loss for the family, which was already facing financial difficulties.
Illness adds to family’s difficulties
Ganiga’s family is reportedly living in severe financial hardship. Ganiga is also suffering from a serious illness and is unable to undertake daily wage labour to earn a livelihood.
He lives with his wife and two children, and the family was already struggling to meet its basic needs before losing their home.
With the house now completely destroyed, the family has been forced to seek temporary shelter. The family members are currently staying in a small rented house after being rendered homeless by the collapse.
The loss of their belongings and food supplies has further increased their difficulties at a time when the family has limited financial resources.
Officials inspect collapsed house
Following the incident, the village administrative officer and gram panchayat officials visited the site and inspected the damage.
The officials assessed the condition of the collapsed structure and the losses suffered by the family. The incident occurred amid continuous heavy rainfall in the region, which has affected several vulnerable houses and structures.
The family is now dependent on government assistance and other support to recover from the loss and secure a permanent place to live.
Compensation likely to provide some relief
As per government regulations, the family may be eligible for emergency compensation of up to Rs 2.5 lakh for the loss of the house. However, the amount and eligibility will depend on the official assessment and applicable government norms.
While such assistance could provide some immediate relief, the family faces the larger challenge of rebuilding its home.
The inability to immediately construct a new house under the Basava Vasathi Yojana has added to the family’s concerns. With Ganiga unable to work due to his health condition and the family already struggling financially, arranging funds for a new house is likely to remain a major challenge.
Family seeks support after loss
The collapse has left the family in a vulnerable situation, with temporary rented accommodation currently serving as their shelter. The loss of the house has also taken away their stored food grains and household belongings.
The incident highlights the difficulties faced by economically weaker families living in vulnerable houses during periods of prolonged heavy rainfall.
Timely government assistance, rehabilitation support and help in securing a permanent house could provide much-needed relief to Ganiga’s family. For a household already affected by illness and financial hardship, the destruction of its only home has made an already difficult situation considerably more challenging.