Mysuru: Journalists too took a big hit during the recent rains and landslides in Kodagu with many of them unable to function properly and some others losing their homes in the natural calamity. The houses of at least 10 journalists were damaged in the rains.
“With road connectivity disrupted, telephone and mobile connectivity lost and officers busy with rescue and relief operations, it was not a easy job for journalists to report on the recent calamity. Yet many trudged through the muddy terrain sand and coordinated with multiple sources to ensure the news reached the public,” said a source.
According to sources, the houses of Lokesh Katakeri, a photo journalist in Katakeri, electronic media reporter Naveen D’souza at Jahangir Paisari in Hebbetgeri and the house and plantation of the parents of journo Kudekal Santhosh at Hemmethal were damaged. Others whose houses were wrecked were electronic media reporter, K.T. Srinivas at Kalamma colony in Kushalnagar, journalist Vinod at Hattihole, journalists Ujwal Ranjith at Mangaladevinagar in Madikeri, M.N. Nasir at Mahadevpete in Madikeri, and videographers, Sunil Jogi and R.R. Manoj in Indiranagar in Madikeri. When contacted on the plight of journalists whose houses have suffered damages, principal secretary and relief commissioner Mr Gangaram Baderia said, “They will be part of rehabilitation process.” Meanwhile, Kodagu district minister Sa Ra Mahesh said, “it is planned to give an ex gratia of Rs 1.10 lakh to those who have lost houses in Kodagu. We are planning to build houses at a cost of Rs 6 lakh each through public private partnership for those who have lost houses.” On Sunday, 70 more people returned home and two more relief centres were closed.
