Karnataka floods: Vehicle owners flood service centres

BELAGAVI: With the rain and flood damaging vehicles in Belagavi district, owners are making a beeline to service centres and garages in the city to have them repaired. Garages and showroom authorities are struggling under the flood of customers. Some garages do not even have sufficient space to park the vehicles.
Thousands of cars and two-wheelers parked on roads and in basements of apartments were submerged in flood water.Some vehicles which were driven through water-filled roads were also damaged. Most cars, including high-end ones, require engine repair as flood water entered engines. Many cars have also developed wiring problems.
Car owners are struggling to even start their vehicles to take them to a service station. Most are relying on towing vehicles to shift their cars, resulting in high demand for towing vehicles. People are paying in advance to book them.
Many people were seen queuing up in front of service stations early in the morning. Car showrooms have moved out new cars to make space for damaged vehicles. Automobile mechanics say there are still thousands of vehicles under water in rural parts of the district, especially Athani, Chikkodi and Raibag taluks.
Some car companies are offering single-window services. They have hired additional technicians to meet the flood of customers. Representatives of insurance companies have also been deployed at showrooms.
According to a rough estimate, more than 10,000 vehicles were damaged across the district. Sources say the rush at service centres will continue for a month at least.
Mahesh Mane, divisional officer, claims section, New India Assurance Company, said they were receiving a large number of claim applications for vehicles damaged by the flood and it was the first time that the company was getting so many applications at one time.