Rock and Ice report that the Hampi village, adjacent to the world famous Indian bouldering area, has been ransacked in a government crackdown. This report just in from Ryan Haeseley, a climber and witness on the scene:
With only a few hours of warning, the residents of the village of Hampi were informed by district officials that their homes and businesses would be destroyed. At 5 am on July 30th, earth moving machinery began demolishing all of the buildings in Hampi’s main commercial strip as villagers looked on. The officials brought with them a strong police presence, arresting protesters en masse and taking them away in re-purposed buses. Within hours, the entire Hampi bazaar had been reduced to rubble, leaving hundreds of families without homes or jobs.
As of August 2nd, only the homes and businesses within the city center have been affected. The climbing hostel Goan Corner and its neighbors have not
yet been targeted, although it is possible that that may change in the future.
Full report on Rock and Ice
WFT! Why?
That really sucks. Poor folks. Was planning on going to Hampi in November. Does this mean there is nowhere to stay now?
“As of August 2nd, only the homes and businesses within the city center have been affected.
The climbing hostel Goan Corner and its neighbors have not yet been targeted, although it is possible that that may change in the future.”