1,500 km of roads damaged, 32 villages badly hit

The landslides and floods have inflicted a damage of Rs 2,000 crore in Kodagu district, as per an estimate by the district administration after a primary assessment.

As many as 716 houses have collapsed and 404 others have been damaged. People in 32 villages have been severely affected and 10 villages have suffered landslides. Most of the damage has been reported from Madikeri and Somwarpet taluks. About 1,500 km of rural roads have been damaged and 150 km road needs be rebuilt entirely on an alternative route. More than 250 buildings have suffered some kind of damage.

The district administration has decided to invite NGOs and other organisations to adopt flood-affected villages to expedite the process of rehabilitation and restoration.

Officials said that under a special Anna Bhagya scheme, each family from flood affected areas has been given 10 kg rice, cooking oil, sugar, dal and kerosene.

“Kerosene measuring 17,160 litres has been distributed. Gas stoves have been given to 153 families. Temporary sheds have been formed to shelter the victims. If that doesn’t happen, I will discuss the possibility of rehabilitating them by paying for their house rent,” said Minorities Welfare Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan.

He said work was on to provide APL and BPL cards to those who have lost them. “People do not need to panic. It has also been decided to provide textbooks free of costs to the students,” he said.

Slamming Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for losing her cool, Khan said she was not elected by people so she would not understand their problems. “She has been elected to the Rajya Sabha directly. District icharge Minister Sa Ra Mahesh will help flood victims without losing his spirit,” he said.