“Suddenly water flowed from hills like flood”
The words of anxiety in the rescue camps
Madikeri, August 25: "The massive trees in our area started uprooting by the torrential rains that lashed along with strong winds. Suddenly the water flowed from the hills like flood. Due to the water force, rockslides occurred. Following which massive trees started collapsing into the water. It is still terrifying when we recall the sound of the rocky stones crashing with one another while rolling down with the flow of water. It was a terrifying experience to run away from them and save lives."
These are the words of anxiety from the villagers of Madikeri taluk’s Jodipala, Yeradane Monnangeri, Devarakolli and surrounding villages. Now all of them are in the rescue camps at Tekkil Community Hall in Sullia Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district and at the Sampaje Government School.
"These are never seen moments and never forgettable events of our lives. There was rain for some days. But the heavy rain of that day was devastating. The wind was more devastating than rain. The storm uprooted trees. Still getting goosebumps when we recall those moments," the villagers explained.
"Our town has completely demolished due to landslides and rainfall. Millions of crops, including Kangoo, coffee, black pepper, banana and lush gardens; which we developed by working for decades, have now remained only as mud. Houses built by borrowing loans have collapsed. There is no road to return to our town. We have no information about the Cattle, goats, dogs, and hens that we reared" the women and men in the camps said.
Due to heavy rainfall, water was gushing out from the hilltop near our house. The hills were collapsing. The rocks were rolling, and the trees were coming with flowing water. We ran out of the house to save our lives. As the roads were closed, we could not go anywhere and stayed together. The next day, some local people brought us here with the support of a rope tied across the river," said Kathayani, a resident of Yeradane Monnangere in Madikeri taluk.
“We were born and raised in Jodupala. I have never seen such a tragic event in my life. In case of heavy rainfall, a large amount of water used to flow through the stream near our house. If the rain was moderate, the water flow used to be reduced. But I have never seen a huge tree flowing like dust in the stream. The incident, where rocky stones rolling from the hills with crashing noise, was strange to me. I stood with folded hands in front of the water and requested it to stop. There was no other way than that. From there my son and I ran away and saved our lives," 60-year-old Sesamma, a resident of Jodupala who is currently housed in the Tekkil Community Hall narrated.
"Mom and I were at home. Heavy rainfall accompanied with gusty winds lashed the village. Laud sound was also there. Father, who was working in the garden, rushed and informed: “water is coming ... the rocks are rolling…” We all left home. Then a police constable came and lifted me on his back,” Likhit, a student who is currently staying at a camp in Sampaje primary school, recalled the incident.
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Mayawati criticises 'hasty' passage of Waqf Bill, says BSP does not support it
Lucknow (PTI): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday criticised the central government for "rushing" the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying that the legislation should have been introduced only after addressing people's concerns and clarifying doubts.
Her remarks came after the Rajya Sabha passed the Bill late Thursday night, a day after its approval in the Lok Sabha, where the opposition strongly opposed it.
"After listening to both the ruling party and the opposition in Parliament on the Waqf Amendment Bill, the conclusion is that if the central government had given the public more time to understand the Bill and addressed all their concerns before bringing it forward, it would have been better," Mayawati posted on X in Hindi.
The BSP leader further expressed disappointment over what she termed as the government's "haste" in passing the Bill.
"It is unfortunate that the government hurriedly introduced and passed this Bill, which is not appropriate. Now that it has been passed, if governments misuse it, then the BSP will stand firmly with the Muslim community. In other words, the party does not support this Bill," she added.
