Bellary Diocese

BELLARY, OCT. 02: Untimely and incessant rains for over four days, caused widespread devastation across northern Karnataka, making the church’s development agencies to launch massive relief work for the affected people. Bellary Diocesan Social Development agency BDDS, launched massive relief effort supported by Caritas India, to bring relief and succor to people affected by huge rains in Bellary, Raichur and Koppal districts. Shelters have been opened at Bellary, Hirenaganur, Jagir Pannur, Jawalgera, Maski and Mudgal for those whose houses have been washed away or have collapsed. Bishop of Bellary visited the worst affected areas in and around Bellary and personally directed the relief effort. He has asked all the church schools and institutions to be opened to provide shelter for the affected people. Prolonged and heavy rains in the draught prone areas of Northern Karnataka have caused widespread devastation in the districts of Bellary, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Koppal and Raichur. Nealy 30 persons have died, hundreds injured, mostly due to house collapse, over 3,000 houses have been destroyed, villages have been marooned and standing crops have been inundated. “We had rescued an elderly lady from a mud house, and just then, the house caved in,” said the Assistant Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church, Jawalgera, Raichur district. “We have lost everything. All our belongings are gone. The only thing we could save was our lives,” lamented widow Rajeshwari of Cowl Bazar in Bellary. “It all happened in the night. It was pouring like anything. My son Anand Kumar refused to sleep in a neighbor’s house. He wanted to sleep with the family, if need be die with them,” stated Laxmi Angamma of Bellary with tears in her eyes. Many of the houses in the villages are built with stones and mud. Even the roofs are made with mud. That’s why they could not withstand the heavy rains, causing loss of life and property”, observed BDDS Director, Fr. Paulraj.