the goan I network
BELAGAVI
This Ganesh festival is not the same this year like the last season, rued traders and showroom owners from Belagavi, even as incessant rains threw life out of gear in the region for the second time in a row.
The rains not only adversely affected business in the Belagavi market, but dampened the festive spirit of Chaturthi.
While the market was gradually recovering after the flood havoc that ravaged the district early August this year, heavy rains lashing the region since last Sunday have come to haunt the business owners.
The rains have also reduced the number of Goans visiting the city, especially during the Ganesh festival holidays. With fear of landslides and flooded roads looming large, the number of Goans visiting Belagavi city is very low compared to Ganesh season every year, said a business owner.
“Goans are like oxygen to Belagavi market. Every year, during Ganesh holidays, scores of Goans visit Belagavi and we are depending on them as they are extremely good buyers. However, this year the number of Goans visiting the city has drastically reduced,” Suresh Porwal, owner of The Raymond Shop and Manyavar showroom told The Goan.
“A customer from Mapusa who visited our showroom today was worried about returning back to Goa as he was not sure whether the Chorla Road would be safe,” Porwal added further.
According to showroom owners, this is for the first time such a situation has arisen due to incessant rains. Normally, during Ganesh festival the city is crowded with Goans and people come from different parts to see Ganesh pandals.
“Every year, city is crowded as thousands flock to the pandals to take Darshan of Lord Ganesha. This year even after a week has passed the crowds are comparatively less,” member of a local committee lamented.
Meanwhile, as the heavy rains continued, several bridges in Khanapur taluka have submerged due to overflowing of River Malaprabha and Mhadei. Over 40 villages have lost contact with Khanapur. According to sources, incidents of landslides and inundation of Chorla were reported throughout Saturday due to which commuters have avoided travelling on this route.
The route was blocked for several hours on Saturday due to landslides and inundation.
The flood situation in Belagavi district still looms large as the inflow in river Krishna and river Ghataprabha has increased further, authorities said.
