Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jul 28: Deputy commissioner (DC) Mullai Muhilan said, “There is high possibility of natural disasters like flood, cyclone and landslide here as we are situated in the coastal belt.”

Addressing media here on Friday July 28, the DC said, “Since the last two weeks, there have been 7 deaths including five due to drowning. The government directed the district administration to take preventive measures to avoid any untoward incidents during the monsoon.

“We have decentralized the disaster management system to tackle incidents of natural disaster. For every gram panchayat, urban bodies and wards, there will be a disaster management team for which a nodal officer will be appointed. There are 296 such disaster management teams which include 233 gram panchayats, 13 urban local bodies and 60 wards. This helps in planning disaster management by using all the resources and funds. The nodal officer is authorized as the first point of response.

“We have 25 NDRF, 38 SDRF, 190 fire personnel and 74 home guards deployed in the different places of districts to tackle natural disaster incidents. In the monsoon, in cases where cracks develop on house walls, the families can be shifted. A total of 38 people have been shifted from such houses in the last 10 days. The police will issue orders in such cases and with the help of local bodies and elected representatives, they will try and convince the families to shift or else they will be forcibly shifted with the help of the police force.

“Tourists need to be alert while visiting any places. Home guards are deployed in 8 beaches to restrict visitors as the entry to beaches s banned. They are also deployed in religious places like Kateel, Dharmasthala and Subramanya to restrict tourists from entering the water bodies. Trekking is also restricted now. If any tourist violates rules, they will be subjected for legal action. Notice boards will be put up on bridges which are dangerous to commute on. There are 87 landslide prone areas in the district, majority being in Charmadi and 18 flood prone areas under the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) limits,” he said.

Superintendent of police C B Ryshyanth said, “We will restrict entry on some roads depending on the level of water. Restricted points have been identified with the help of revenue department and district administration.

“Among the four roads leading to Subramanya, two roads are blocked. It will be better if they avoid visiting Subramanya temple during the monsoon.

“Tourists are warned not to step into water bodies to click pictures. If anyone comes across places where there is possibility of landslides, they can inform to 112 or 1077 helpline number 24x7,” he said.

Police commissioner Kuldeep Jain also advised tourists to follow rules strictly and not to make any fascinating or adventurous moves in water bodies. “Violation of rules will attract strict action,” he said.