Bengaluru pitches in for Kodagu

Kodava Samaja, hub of the Kodava community in Bengaluru, is abuzz with activity.

Metrolife visited its relief material collection site in Vasanthnagar on Saturday, and found relief supplies pouring in generously for flood-affected areas in Kodagu.

Incessant rains have claimed 10 lives in this lush Karnataka district, where the river Cauvery originates. Houses have collapsed. People are being moved to safer locations with the help of the army. Entire towns and villages are marooned.

C K Subbaiah, secretary, Kodava Samaja, says the relief operations in Bengaluru are stretching well into the night.

“On Friday, our relief activities went on till 2 am and we have enough supplies. It is good to see people from across the city coming in to extend their help and support,” he says.

Karun Kalappa, member of the Samaja, feels inspired by the energy of the volunteers.

“People from across the city, Bannerghatta Road, Vijayanagar, Electronic City and Rajajinagar, brought in lots of material, varying from sanitary napkins to blankets to even dog food. There are also people from Udupi, Sakleshpur and Tirupati, who have contributed money and material,” says Karun.

The relief collection centre saw volunteers from the age of 8 to 80. Satish Mohapatra, a businessman, was worried about friends stuck in Kodagu.

“I am a part of a riding club and some of our friends were there. Our group has come together to contribute, and help with loading, segregating and transporting relief material. I feel good that I used a weekend for something worthwhile,” he says.

Satish, like many others, is helping pass on information to people in distress. “My friends and I are part of WhatsApp groups forwarding information about helplines and numbers gathered from Twitter and Facebook. Many people are marooned and we are trying our best to help them reach safe places,” he says.

Amid the hustle and bustle at the centre, many were trying to get information about relatives at relief camps in Kodagu.

Ruchitha Aiyappa, payment specialist with an MNC, heard about the floods through social media but was alarmed when she got messages that her grandparents had to be moved to a relative’s house.

“When distress strikes one personally, it leaves a deeper impact. Knowing that my small efforts help someone in a dire situation makes me feel at peace now. There were a lot of my friends who sent me money to contribute to the funds being collected here,” she says.

Ruchitha says about 30 per cent of volunteers and people donating in kind are non-Kannadigas. “A lot of youngsters, between the age of 15 to 30, come to the centre,” she says.

Mookonda Deepthi Nitin, environment officer in a manufacturing unit, is among the volunteers. She encourages people to be more sensitive to nature.

“I have been telling people the damage seen is not all. I have also been actively coordinating with volunteers in Kodagu through WhatsApp groups to help locate their relatives. I verify messages before passing them on,” she says.

Some like Koppira Darshan Ayanna, IT professional, spent all of Saturday at the Samaja in Vasanthnagar. “We have enough supplies now and the response is overwhelming. Despite it being a weekend, there were 350 people around on Saturday night. We hope we can overcome this situation together,” he says.

Wish to contribute?

Send your contribution to:

Kodava Samaja Flood Relief Fund Blr.

Account number: 1370101084312

IFSC Code: CNRB0001370

Canara Bank. Vasanthanagar Branch Call Kodava Samaja, Bengaluru: 080-22260188