“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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Myanmar quake: India sends more humanitarian aid in C-17 aircraft
New Delhi (PTI): India on Sunday sent 31 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including replenishment stores for an Indian army field hospital unit deployed in Myanmar, to augment New Delhi's efforts to provide succour to the quake-hit neighbouring country.
The aid was sent in a C-17 Globemaster heavy-lift aircraft.
It took off from the Hindon air force station in Ghaziabad early Sunday, a senior official said.
"#OperationBrahma@IAF_MCC C> C-17 plane departs for Mandalay with 31 tons of humanitarian aid, including replenishment stores for the Indian army field hospital unit," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on X and also shared a few photos.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Myanmar last week, with the toll rising to over 3,000 even as rescuers continue to search through the rubble for signs of life.
India mounted its relief mission named 'Operation Brahma' as a swift response to the devastation caused by the earthquake that hit Myanmar as well as Thailand on March 28.
The field hospital, under 'Operation Brahma', continues its humanitarian mission in Myanmar as the local government and its agencies also soldiered on with their efforts in relief and rescue work.
The hospital unit comprising 118 personnel was deployed in Myanmar using two C-17 heavy-lift aircraft of the IAF which had taken off from Agra on March 29.
The field hospital has been set up by the Indian Army in Mandalay.
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