Still looking for help

700 residents of Gundalakere village near Hampi spend two nights on a hill, return home to find that the state has abandoned them

Still looking for help

700 residents of Gundalakere village near Hampi spend two nights on a hill, return home to find that the state has abandoned them

About 700 residents of Gundalakere a village four kilometres from Hampi spent two nights on a hilltop without food or shelter as the floodwaters swirled below them.

They returned home on Tuesday as the situation eased, only to find the state relief effort as far away as it was when they had removed themselves to the hilltop. The suffering villagers claim that so far they have only received the state government's false assurances.

"We don't even have any relief camps nearby. We have no food, no water the MLA's assurance of rescue operations is false," said Sayappa, a Gundalakere resident. "We urge the state to rehabilitate us to a safe place."

Neighbours help

Victims claim that no government official or representative has been sent to them with any aid.

"We are living on the food sent from villages and other places in the neighbourhood, including Hampi and Venktapura camp, Kamlapura and Kaddirampura, since yesterday (Tuesday)," said Veeresh, another resident.

The village had been completely flooded by canal waters, and the only overbridge connecting the village to Hampi submerged.

The Other Side
No lapse: MLA
Authorities deny any laxity in efforts to reach aid to Gundalakere village. "The area is severely affected and officials have been directed to act immediately," said Vijaynagar MLA Anand Singh.

"It may take time as the damage is huge, but we are working round the clock, and we believe officials will reach the victims in Gundalakere today (Wednesday). I'm personally monitoring the situation and will soon move them to the nearest relief camp," he added.

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