Continuous rain batters Madikeri: Normal life affected
Villages marooned
Madikeri, August 16: Due to heavy rains that has been lashing the district for the last few days, streams and rivers were in spate creating flood situation in many parts of the district. Repeated landslides in various villages have left the people in panic and appealing for help.
More than 200 people have lost connectivity with other part due to landslide in the hillock at Kandanakolli Haleri area in Kedakal gram panchayat limits. Three people trapped in the flood as the plantation was submerged in the Cauvery river water at Devamani near Betri in Virajpet taluk. More than 40 people were facing the problem due to landslide and flood situation at Devasturu village near Madikeri and another 40 families have got shelter at Kudiharida Kallu due to flood and landslide at 2nd Monnangeri near Galibeedu. Another 52 persons who were under distress due to landslide at Makkandur, were given shelter at K Nidugane Karnangeri gruel centre.
Virajpet disconnected
Due to landslide on one side of Virajpet road on the outskirts of Madikeri city, the traffic movement on the road was suspended. As large scale cracks were developed on Somawarpete- Sakaleshpur road and landslides, the road connectivity was disrupted.
Since Thursday morning, more than 80000 cusec of water is being released from Harangi reservoir. As a result, the vehicular movement on Kushalnagar-Hassan state highway was suspended. Meanwhile, Cauvery river is in full spate due to which many areas in Kushalnagar were submerged in the flood water.
Madikeri-Mangaluru national highway was closed for the fourth day. Now, the fresh landslides have been obstructing the relief works on the highway due to which the vehicular movement was cancelled on this route. Madikeri-Virajpet, Madikeri-Somwarpet- Sakleshpur roads were disconnected. Kaluru near Madikeri was marooned.
All places in Kodagu district have been receiving heavy rains due to which the normal life of people was affected. As Cauvery and Lakshmana Thirtha rivers were flowing above danger mark, several low-lying areas were submerged in the flood water. Several houses at Karadigodu in Virajpet taluk were almost submerged in the water. The families were shifted to safer places and a gruel centre was opened for the distressed people at the government school. As one side of the Kanur bridge, connecting Kerala from Ponnampet was collapsed, it is inviting the danger. In several places, trees were uprooted on the roads disconnecting the road connectivity.
CM response
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that he was collecting information about the rain and its damages once in every ten minutes and authorities were directed to use helicopter for rescue operations. PWD Minister was camped in Kodagu to oversee the relief works. There was no paucity of funds for the relief works, he said.
Many places in Madikeri taluk were submerged in the flood water. Madikeri city RSS workers have involved in rescue work and assisting the authorities in Makkandur, Indiranagar, Chamundeshwari Nagar and other places. Seva Bharati has organized accommodation facility for the distressed people at Lakshmi Narasimha Kalyana mandir in Madikeri. Distressed people can contact Mahesh (9480731020), Arun (8618978754), Dhananjay (9449731238), or Chandra (9663725200) for any help.
Kushalnagar submerged
As the Cauvery river is flowing above danger mark, several places in the taluk were submerged and the situation might worsen in coming days. RSS has formed emergency response teams across the town. Already, the volunteers have been working Dandinapete, Indira Layout, Yogananda Extension, Kuvempu Extension, Sai Extension and other parts of the town.
Kudige bridge facing threat
As more than 80000 cusec of water is being released from the Harangi reservoir, the newly constructed bridge at Kudige is facing the threat. The vehicular movement on this route is cancelled.
MP Pratap Simha visits
As the Kushalnagar and surrounding areas were submerged in the Cauvery water, Lok Sabha Member Pratap Simha visited the places like Sai Extension, Kuvempu Extension, Harangi Road and Kudige and directed the authorities to open gruel centres. Assistant Commissioner Nanjunde Gowda, district BJP president Bharatish, Yuva Morcha district president Gappanna, Karnataka Disaster Management Centre officials were present.
Delegation meets CM
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy assured a delegation which met him in Bengaluru on Thursday that he would send the incharge secretary to assess the damage of the properties due to flood situation in the district and if needed, helicopters would be sent for relief works.
A delegation led by district minister Sa Ra Mahesh, Opposition leader Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLCs MP Sunil Subramani, MK Pranesh and Arun Shahpur met the CM and apprised him of the present situation in the district.
Due to heavy rains lashing the district for the last one month, many villages have suffered and roads were damaged and normal life was affected so much. Many villages in the district were submerged in the flood water. So, the government should respond to the problems immediately, they demanded.
Responding to the demands, the CM said that he would send the district incharge secretary immediately. There was no dearth of funds to take up relief works and for emergency works or for shifting the people, he would send the helicopters, he said.
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We need to create system in which people's skills get their due: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Friday called for creating a system in which people's skills get their due and everyone's contribution is respected, as he shared a Diwali video in which he interacts with paint job workers and potters.
Posting the over nine-minute video which features him also having a conversation with his nephew Raihan Rajiv Vadra on YouTube, the former Congress chief said, "A memorable Diwali with special people - I celebrated this Diwali working with some painter brothers and making earthen diyas with a potter family."
"I saw their work closely, tried to learn their skills and understood their difficulties and problems. They don't go home. We celebrate festivals happily and to earn some money, they forget their village, city, family," Gandhi said.
"They make happiness from clay. While lighting up the festivals of others, are they able to live in light themselves? Those who build houses can hardly run their own houses!" he said.
Gandhi said Diwali means light that can remove the darkness of poverty and helplessness.
"We have to create such a system -- in which people's skills get their due and contribution is respected -- makes everyone's Diwali a happy one. I hope this Diwali brings prosperity, progress and love in the lives of all of you," he said.
In the video, Gandhi is seen working with labourers at the 10 Janpath residence and learning to paint walls along with his nephew. In the second part of the video, Gandhi goes to the house of a woman who makes earthen lamps with her five daughters.
Gandhi tries his hand at pottery and makes 'diyas', which he says he would give to his mother and sister.
Since his Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra and his Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Gandhi has been interacting with a cross-section of people from mechanics and cobblers to labourers and bus drivers.
He often posts videos of his numerous interactions and highlights the plight of various sections of society.
