Bantwal: It's 50 years since devastating 1974 floods

Bantwal: Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the devastating 1923 flood (colloquially known as ‘Maari Bolla’) that submerged large parts of the district. This year marks the 50th anniversary of another severe flood that occurred in 1974.

Notably, both floods happened on a Friday, with the 1974 flood also occurring on July 26th.

The 1974 flood was not as catastrophic as the 1923 flood. There are no photographs from the 1923 flood, but reminders of its severity are still visible in the marks on buildings in the Bantwal-Panemangalore area. These marks also include those left by the 1974 flood.

Unlike the earlier flood, the 1974 flood was captured on camera, and the black-and-white photographs of the flood’s impact are currently circulating on social media. The flood severely affected Uppinangady, Bantwal, Panemangalore towns, and many areas where entire houses were washed away by the river.

Few people who witnessed the 1923 flood are still alive, but memories of the 1974 flood remain vivid for those over 50. The photographs taken by the late Dr. Narendra Acharya of Bantwal during the 1974 flood are still preserved, showing the submerged Bantwal market. No similar floods have been reported since 1974, according to local accounts.