Minister Lad visits Machapur, disburses aid to hailstorm victims

Caption: District minister Santosh Lad interacts with villagers at Machapur village in Kalghatgi taluk of Dharwad district (TOI)Dharwad: District minister Santosh Lad visited Machapur village in Kalghatagi taluk on Monday to assess the damage caused by the recent hailstorm and extend relief to affected residents.Touring the village, the minister inspected damaged houses and interacted with residents to understand the extent of loss and the challenges faced in the aftermath of the calamity. He reviewed relief measures already initiated and enquired about the immediate needs of the affected families.As part of the relief effort, 50,000 roof tiles were distributed through Santosh Lad Foundation to help families repair damaged houses and secure temporary shelter. The minister assessed the impact of this support during his visit.Addressing villagers, Lad assured that both the district administration and the government stand firmly with them during this difficult period. He directed officials from the agriculture and horticulture departments to jointly survey every affected field and submit a comprehensive damage assessment report at the earliest.Emphasising timely assistance, he instructed that compensation be disbursed promptly to eligible farmers based on accurate assessments.During the visit, the minister distributed compensation cheques of Rs 20,000 each to beneficiaries Kalkappa Basavantappa Hurakadli, Ningappa Tippanna Ramanakoppa, and Nagappa Fakirappa Indur, who suffered livestock losses due to the hailstorm.He also visited farmlands in the village to inspect damage to crops, including sugarcane, maize, and mango. Farmers highlighted losses to irrigation pipes, equipment, and arecanut saplings prepared for planting. The minister directed officials to conduct a detailed survey of crop and infrastructure damage and submit a report to the district administration.Deputy commissioner Snehal R, ZP CEO Bhuvanesh Patil, SP Gunjan Arya, and other officials accompanied the minister during the visit.