Daijiworld Media Network – Kodagu (DC)
Kodagu, Aug 18: The continuous rains in Madikeri have claimed 6 lives and hundreds of others have gone missing.
More than 500 people in Hemmathalu, Meghatalu, Mukkodlu and Kalur villages in Kodagu are stranded due to landslides. In Muvathoklu village a man died after his house collapsed. Over 200 people are stranded due to massive landslides in Jodupala bordering Dakshina Kannada.
The military choppers have started rescue operation in Makkandur following landslides. A hanging bridge in Kodagu got submerged in water and over 50 people from Monnangeri in Madikeri have been rescued.
Minister Deshpande visited Kodagu
The residents, who were affected by landslides, were shifted to district hospital.
The connecting road of Gonikoppa, Shrimangala, Calicut has been blocked. Rama and Laxmana Theertha Rivers are flowing above the danger mark. The schools and colleges have declared holiday following heavy rains.
In the wake of heavy rainfall in the state, Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy will on Saturday visit Kodagu to review relief operations being carried out in the district.
Kumaraswamy will also chair a high-level meeting with top officials around 10.30 am in Krishna, his home office before leaving for Kodagu district.
Over 3000 people stranded in several places have been rescued and over 600 people are yet to be rescued. "Rescue operations will be over by evening. CM will visit Kodagu today to review flood situation. Relief camps have been set up for people. Food, water, doctors and facilities have been made available to them in relief camps," said state minister Sa Ra Mahesh.
Kumaraswamy had earlier directed Kodagu district in-charge minister Sara Mahesh to ensure the supply of relief materials from Mysuru, according to a press release from the chief minister's office. In view of predictions about heavy rainfall in the days to come, Kumaraswamy had earlier directed deputy commissioners of various districts to remain on their toes to combat any untoward situation.
Out of 30 districts, as many as five districts namely, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Shivamogga have been kept on high alert.
The CM had also urged the concerned officials in the said districts to review the situation in their vicinities and update the authorities in case of emergency.
Kumaraswamy had on Thursday announced a grant-in-aid of Rs 200 crore to the affected districts for relief work. The Congress' Karnataka unit had set up three teams to assess the situation in the various districts affected by heavy rains.