Bhatkal: Photos and video clips of water dripping inside buses and trains have been circulating widely on social media. Recently, however, images of government officials working with umbrellas inside a government office have also gone viral. These photos were taken at the Tahsildar office in Haveri district, Karnataka, approximately 190 km from Bhatkal.

Sources report that the Tahsildar office in Haveri experiences water leakage whenever it rains, forcing officials to use umbrellas while working inside. The district administration has prioritized repairing the roof after these images gained traction on social media.

The building, constructed around 15 years ago, has been plagued by leakage issues for the past five years. Government officials have indicated that despite being aware of the problem, the administration had not taken adequate steps to address it. Previous attempts to fix the roof using temporary measures failed to stop the leakage. Heavy rains particularly exacerbate the issue, causing water to drip into the office’s store room and record room, thereby risking damage to files, important papers, and computer systems.

The officials are demanding that the contractor responsible for the construction be fined, as the roof began leaking within ten years of the building’s completion. They also suggest that the Tahsildar office be temporarily relocated to the old court building in Haveri, which is in comparatively better condition, until the renovation is complete.

Speaking to the media, Tahsildar G. Shankar stated that repair work has commenced, and the leakage problem will be resolved as soon as possible. He added that metal sheets are being installed on the roof, with the work being undertaken by Nirmiti Kendra. According to the Tahsildar, these metal sheets will prevent water from leaking into the building.