The rains last week in North Karnataka and Andhra have result in terrible losses of life and livelihood of lakhs of people. This year, it seemed that the rains were not kind on Karnataka. In fact the Met dept. had predicted that the monsoon would be deficient. Unfortunately, when the met dept. predicts that there won’t be rain, that’s when the rain comes in torrents.

The rain first struck Bangalore causing unbelievable scenes of roads flooded and a bus with passengers in it was trapped on a busy road and firemen had to save the passengers. Rain flooded many households and a small boy was swept away in the Bangalore floods. Just when the rain stopped in Bangalore, it hit North Karnataka with an unbelievable fury. Lots of people are talking of how doomsday seems near and this rain seemed to make this prophecy true.

The rains literally swamped northern Karnataka with hundreds of villages submerged and people rendered homeless. The famous temple town of Mantralaya was flooded and many pilgrims were trapped in buildings as rains reached even the fourth floor of buildings. The famous Mantralaya temple was flooded and the seer has to be evacuated by the Air Force.

The statistics of the rain tragedy are horrific:

• 19% of the state’s highways have suffered serious damage.

  
  




• More than 1400 bridges were washed away.

  
  




• 5 National highways are badly hit affecting road traffic, a total loss of 500 crores to the roadways is estimated.

  
  




• Official death toll is 206

  
  




• 2.5 lakh houses are damaged

  
  




• 1.8 crore people in 1,490 villages have been affected

  
  




• 3.6 lakh flood victims are now at the mercy of shelter camps

  
  

In this tragic situation, what is needed is help for the flood victims. The Govt. and its agencies need lots of funds to help the affected people. Today the CM and his cabinet went out on a padayatra to collect donations and Rs. 500 crores was raised within the last 48 hours thanks to the philanthropic public.

People are voluntarily supplying food and cash to help flood victims. People are donating whatever they can to help the flood victims. Me and my family members too have donated cash for the flood relief fund. Of course, what we give may not be much, but it is the small drops that make an ocean. Every rupee we give will help someone somewhere find solace.

So, friends if you feel like helping the flood victims, you too can donate cash. Deccan Herald is a leading Karnataka newspaper and have floated the Deccan Herald-Prajavani Flood Relief Fund. If you are interested in donating, please send whatever amount possible – Cheque/DD in the name of Deccan Herald-Prajavani Flood Relief Fund and to be sent to Deccan Herald, 75, M G Road, Bangalore-560001. If you wish, you can also directly pay in to the fund account SB A/C No 200385, Canara Bank, Cantonment Branch, Bangalore-560001. For any queries, please write to editor@deccanherald.co.in (Of course, donations are exempt from tax under Section 80G).

Of course, we hope that the money that goes to the Govt. will reach the beneficiaries, but that is secondary. Let’s try and do what we can to bring a smile back on the face of people who have lost everything.