Nearly 44,000 people have so far been evacuated from flood-hit and rain-affected areas of Karnataka, where the rain fury has left nine people dead in the past few days, as authorities on Thursday intensified the rescue and relief operations.
The worst-hit was Belagavi district, where six people have lost their lives while 40,180 people have been evacuated by rescue teams comprising Fire and Emergency department, state Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force and Army, official sources said.
Two people died in rain-related incidents in Uttara Kannada district, from where 3,088 people have been shifted to safety till date, and one in Shivamogga, according to official figures.
Nearly 17,000 people are taking shelter in relief camps.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, camping in Belagavi supervising the relief and rescue operations, appealed to the people to donate generously saying that at least Rs 5,000 crore would be required for relief and rehabilitation operations.
The Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the tech giant Infosys, volunteered to donate Rs 10 crore. “I appeal to donors with folded hands that we are in a peculiar situation. Please donate generously,” the Chief Minister said addressing reporters after inspecting the flood ravaged areas in Belagavi in north Karantaka.
He said at least 30,000 houses were required to be built, adding, there was no dearth of resources to carry out our relief operations.
Yediyurappa also said four teams of public representatives have been formed to supervise relief operations in different flood and rain-affected areas.
The Belagavi team would be headed by him and Union Minister of State for Railway Suresh Angadi whereas former chief minister Jagadish Shettar would lead the Dharwad team.
KS Eshwarappa would head the Shivamogga team while Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje would head the coastal team, he said.