Pothole-ridden road claims life in Haveri after heavy rain

Haveri: Prolonged rainfall over four months severely damaged roads across Haveri district, leaving them riddled with potholes. On the evening of Sept 11, around 7.30pm, Dhariyappa Davagi, 46, from Yattinahalli village in Shiggaon taluk, died in a road accident in Tadas police station limits while trying to avoid potholes. His nine-year-old son, Rajaveer, was injured in the accident.

According to police, a case was registered based on a complaint filed by Dhariyappa's father, and an investigation is ongoing. "Dhariyappa and Rajaveer set out on their bike. The road in front of the Gangibhavi temple near Yattinahalli was damaged. Dhariyappa tried to avoid a pothole and hit a roadside barrier. Dhariyappa, who was severely injured, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. His son is recovering," the police stated.

However, residents expressed their ire against the agency responsible for road maintenance, demanding that an FIR be filed against it.

"We have paid thousands of rupees as road tax to the govt while registering our vehicles after purchasing, but the govt has failed to provide proper roads for a smooth journey. Due to the bad shape of roads and the occurrence of potholes, many people have lost their lives, and Dhariyappa's incident is only recorded. Legal action should be initiated against the executive engineer of PWD and mainly the govt because they are responsible for this. Due to their negligence and not filling potholes, one life was lost," asserted Abhishek Uppin, a social activist.

Abdul Hubballi, another activist, demanded, "Due to the bad shape of the road, buses of NWKRTC have cancelled operations to many villages in the district. If any accident occurred on such big potholes, the concerned agency should be responsible for the unwanted incident. The police should file an FIR against them, not the vehicle users, and proper compensation should be provided to the victim's family."

Additionally, many roads in the district are reportedly in similar condition, causing public concern. The main roads connecting Haveri to nearby areas such as Guttal, Savanur, Hirekerur, Byadagi, and Gadag are severely damaged with large potholes, posing risks to motorists. The public works department (PWD) is reportedly facing a shortage of funds, which has delayed necessary repairs. Residents are urging the authorities to address the issue promptly as the roads have become muddy and slushy, with some areas even experiencing muddy water entering homes.

"Based on the complaint, we have filed an FIR. Let me know after the investigation," clarified SP Yashoda Vantagudi regarding the FIR against the govt agency regarding pothole accidents.

TOI tried to contact NN Patil, executive engineer, PWD, but he was not available to comment on it.

"Numerous roads have developed potholes due to recent rainfall across the district. I insisted that all potholes must be filled between Nov and Jan. If the potholes are not properly filled, I will personally ensure they are fixed," said Shivanand Patil, district minister of Haveri