Karnataka’s hill district Kodagu and other parts of Western Ghats have been shaken to the nature’s fury and six persons so far have lost their lives in flood havoc in Kodgu district. River Cauvery and other tributaries are over flowing above danger mark causing huge damage to lives and property.
Rescue teams from Indian Army, Navy, NDRF and state government relief workers worked overtime to rescue people stranded amid unprecedented flood and torrential rains continued to lash in these adjoin regions of Kerala for the third day Causing heavy damage. They have rescued over 800 people to safer places.
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy rushed to Kodagu on Saturday to assess the ground situation with the district battered by unprecedented rains and floods. He has already announced an immediate release of Rs 200 crore from State government’s kitty to take up relief work.
He has visited rain-ravaged areas in Kodagu district and would later in the day visit flood-affected places in Chikkamangaluru and Dakshina Kannada districts besides Nanjangud and surrounding areas in Mysuru district.
“About 60 Dogra Regiment soldiers and 12 expert naval divers rescued 873 marooned people in the flood-hit district, where overnight heavy rains caused landslides and inundated low-lying areas at Makkanduru,” said the officials.
Kodagu, is one of the districts in the southern state worst hit by the south-west monsoon rains since June first week.
The Army’s engineering task force deployed 73 boats, equipment and rafts in rescuing the people and escorting them to safer places in the district.
Relief materials have started pouring in to the people who were affected due to floods in Karnataka and Kerala. Various NGOs, organisations and others have opened collection centers at various places in the State. Bruhut Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Mayor Sampath Raj has announced contribution of one month salary of corporaters, one day salary of employees to the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Relief fund for rehabilitation and relief works of the affected in Karnataka and Kerala.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, appealing public to contribute generously, has assured that each and every rupee received through donation will be utilised in transparent manner and no room will be given for corruption.
Rise Against Hunger India (RAHI), an Internationnal NGO, will be sending 50,000 packed meals to Kerala. Besides, RAHI has been mobilising other important and essential items like hygiene kits, toiletry, soaps, water containers, utensils, bed sheets, blankets, clothing (unused), water purifier and similar products, which can be utilized by the survivors in the relief camps.