WhatsApp saves 100 lives in Karnataka's Belagavi

BENGALURU: On Tuesday evening, about 100 villagers from Hunashyal in Mudalgi taluk of Belagavi district headed to makeshift structures in their fields on the village outskirts for their usual routine — to keep vigil in the night and feed the cattle.
They woke up in the morning to a daunting sight: Water all around and no way they could get away from their perch as their fields had turned into an island.The Ballari Nala, which flows next to their village before joining the Ghataprabha river, had overflowed and marooned them. What was incredible, they said later, was that the nullah which used to be dry for most part of the year had turned into a rivulet.
Their mobile phones were dead in a matter of hours and they lost contact with the villagers. With little to do, they stayed put, hoping help would arrive.
To their luck, a young Pramod, who had stayed back in the village, realised the trouble they were in. There was no way he could reach them through the swirling waters and his calls to the district administration offices did not go through as the lines were busy. But he recalled a forward which mentioned a WhatsApp number of the State Emergency Operation Centre (WhatsApp 9008405955).
Rescuers equipped with boats
By Wednesday afternoon, he sent a message to the number seeking help. Pramod clicked photographs of the flooded area and posted them on the chat.
Kavya Gowda, a staffer at the 24x7 State Emergency Operation Centre in MS Building in Bengaluru, alerted the Belagavi district administration, which in turn alerted the tahsildar of Gokak, which is closer to Hunashyal. But the rescue teams were busy elsewhere and the taluk administration could send help only by evening.
Tahsildar Prakash Holeppagol said rescue teams equipped with boats were pressed into action. “Villagers, including women and kids, were shifted to safer places. By Thursday afternoon, we had evacuated all 108 villagers,” he said. “It was Pramod’s timely message on WhatsApp that saves so many lives.”
Kiran C, another staffer at the centre, said since Wednesday, more than 60 calls have been received from flood-hit districts seeking help.
“Most calls have come from Belagavi, Dharwad, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi,” he said.