MYSURU: Eight people were buried alive and eight others were reported missing as torrential rain for the five consecutive day aggravated the flood situation and set off landslides in Kodagu and Mysuru districts on Friday.
Police said seven people, including five men in Korangala near Bagamandala and two women at Tora region in Heggala village in Virajpet taluk on Friday. Those missing are from Tora region. In Mysuru district, the downpour claimed the life of Ganapathi, 35, at Veeranahosalli, a tribal hamlet in Hunsur taluk.
Ms Annies Kanmani Joy, deputy commissioner, Kodagu, said: "people of Tora region of Heggala village had sought help from the district administration, and though it was a difficult terrain, personnel of the army, NDRF and police, did their best and evacuated 300 people from the village. By the time the team reached the top, however, landslides hit four- five houses and two people including Mamatha,40, and Likitha,15, died. Eight people of two families are missing ( They are suspected to be buried under landslides). We have enough men, and we are doing our best as part of the rescue and relief operations.”
Kodagu recorded 192.98mm of rainfall from 8.30am on Thursday to 8.30am on Friday.
Traffic on as many as 17 roads was affected owing to landslides, floods and uprooting of trees with the deluge affecting normal life in 26 villages of Madikeri taluk, 16 villages in Virajpet, three villages in Somwarpet, five layouts in Kushalnagar town, and eight layouts in Virajpet taluk. As many as 17 roads are blocked due to landslides, tree fall and floods. 10 cows and one goat were also rescued.
As many as 2866 people belonging to 817 families have been shifted to 34 relief centres including 11 in Madikeri taluk, five in Somwarpet taluk, 18 in Virajpet taluk.
In Mysuru district, heavy rain resulted in floods in Hunsur, Periyapatna and Nanjangud, HD Kote taluks. As many as 419 houses were damaged and 1066 people were moved to 14 relief centres.
Due to copious outflow from Kabini, DB Kuppe, first DB Kuppe, Thimmanahosalli, Kadegadde, Aanemaala, Machchooru, Hosuru villages were flooded and 358 people moved to three relief centres in HD Kote taluk and 617 people shifted to relief centres in Nanjangud. Besides, 433 acres of agricultural land at HD Kote taluk and 34 acres in Nanjangud were submerged today.
The front portion of fire and emergency services building at Saraswathipuram, Mysuru, collapsed but all personnel escaped unhurt.
In the wake of directions by Chief Minister Mr B S Yediyurappa, BJP leaders led by Union minister Mr D V Sadanand Gowda, former ministers K S Eshwarappa, C T Ravi, and VSomanna, along with local BJP MLAs K G Bopaiah and Appachchu Ranjan rushed to flood affected areas in Kodagu, and held a meeting with the district administration about damage caused by the deluge and relief operations underway. Mr Sadananda Gowda announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh of ex gratia to families of victims.
Kodagu district administration set up two collection centres at APMC godowns in Madikeri and Kushalnagar to receive donations to help people in distress in Kodagu district.
In a statement released to the media, the district administration said essential commodities, cooking utensils, oil, gas stoves, plastic buckets and mugs, rain coats, warm clothing including caps, scarves, sweaters for adults and children, and clothes including lungis, nighties, slippers, gumboots, gloves, masks, sanitary napkins and diapers, plastic mats, umbrellas, bedsheets and pillows, mosquito repellants, torch lights, mops, sanitisers, dustbins, phenyl cleaning liquid, bleaching powder and , soaps, shampoo, tooth paste, brush and combs, towels, school and luggage bags, antiseptic lotions, anti fungal powders and candles could be donated to the victims.
