Rescue operation in full swing at Karwar: Nagaraj Shetty

Former minister and Coastal Development Authority (CDA) Chairman B Nagaraj Shetty said that as the rain has shown some respite in Karwar in Uttar Kannada, the rescue operations to clear the debris was going on in full swing to trace the 11 bodies still believed to be under debris.

Shetty has been supervising the rescue operations along with the local MLA and MP from Karwar for the last two days.

Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday, he informed that ten out of the total 21 bodies trapped under the debris following a huge landslide have been removed. There were a total of 24 deaths in Karwar due to heavy rain and landslide. Rescue operations are in full swing with about 350 personnel from Indian Navy and Indian Army besides fire service, home guard and police working round the clock, he said.

Rs 1 lakh compensation has already been given to each of the ten bereaved families. The district administration is now working on damage assessment and rehabilitation. As many as 21 gruel centres (ganji kendras) have been set up in various parts of Uttar Kannada district. Several voluntary organisations including Sangh Parivar have been involved in the rescue and rehabilitation activities in the district, he added.

Shetty informed that the Konkan railway track which had been damaged due to heavy rain and land slide has been restored and train service has commenced on Tuesday evening. He said that he, along with others will organise “Padayatra” to collect donations to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund both in cash and kind.

Shetty said that the rescue teams could not reach the spot and could not take necessary equipment to clear the debris, as several lakh cubic feet of land caved in at Kadawada causing damages to national highway and other approaching roads. Railway tracks have been used to take the equipment to the nearest place of the incident.