A 12-year-old boy was washed away in an overflowing open drain in Haveri district, Karnataka, on Thursday. The victim, identified as Nivedan Basavaraj Gudikeri, a resident of Haveri city, had ventured out to observe the waterlogged roads following heavy rainfall. Unaware of the open drain, the boy stepped into it and was swept away by the powerful currents.
The incident occurred in front of the Superintendent of Police's office, prompting an immediate search operation. Nivedan's mother, after hearing the news, fell ill and was rushed to the district hospital for medical attention. Senior district officials, including Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Mahantesh and Superintendent of Police Anshu Kumar Srivastava, arrived at the scene to oversee rescue efforts.
Personnel from the fire force, emergency services, and civic authorities launched a search operation to recover the boy. However, due to the intensity of the floodwaters, the search has been challenging.
Reacting to the incident and the severe flooding in the region, Haveri MP and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed deep sorrow. He acknowledged the significant damage caused by the ongoing heavy rains, which have led to water entering homes and widespread devastation across the district. He also urged the government to provide immediate compensation to Nivedan's family and address the larger impact of the rainfall.
"Haveri district has suffered significant damage due to heavy rainfall, with water entering homes and a child being swept away in the floodwaters," Bommai said.
He further noted that continuous rainfall had led to houses collapsing, and called for the release of relief funds to assist those who have lost their homes. Bommai also requested the establishment of relief centers to support affected families and called on the RDPR and PWD to restore roads and connectivity in flood-hit villages.