Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy conducted an aerial survey of the rain-ravaged Kodagu district on Saturday.
Also, Kumaraswamy denied the social media rumour that an earthquake has occurred in flood-hit Kodagu. In a tweet, Kumaraswamy clarified that neither the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre nor the Geology Department had picked up any sign of tremors. “So, the Kodagu deputy commissioner has requested citizens not to pay heed to such rumours."
As the weather played truant, the officials were uncertain about the Chief Minister's visit.
The Indian Army is already engaged in rescue and relief efforts while the Navy personnel are expected to arrive from Karwar by the end of the day.
Only vehicles carrying relief materials and officials related to relief works are allowed to ply up to Madikeri from Kushalnagar. All resorts and hotels have been instructed to vacate tourists and guests and send them out of the district.
More rain in Kodagu
Just when the people of Kushalnagar where hoping for some respite, the rain resumed post noon in this gateway town of Kodagu district.
Heavy rains have continued to lash several parts of Kodagu on Friday even as National Disaster Response Force and Fire and Emergency Services men and hundreds of volunteers are trying to rescue victims stranded at several places.
Over 600 people are stranded at hills in and around Makkandur, while over 400 people from Jodupal are taking shelter at the government school at Cherambane.
The district administration is continuously working to bring them to safety. However, heavy floods and rains are affecting the rescue operations.
Many people, whose houses are submerged, are approaching gruel centres.
The Indian Navy will launch helicopter services from Sunday to drop relief materials and airlift victims stranded at several places.
"The helicopter will hover at prominent places and commence searches till the limits of endurance. It will also carry water and relief material," stated a communication from the Navy.
The Navy officers have requested victims to gather at a high point and make fire or smoke for easy identification. The officers have also requested them to wave coloured cloths to attract attention.
Meanwhile, the KSRTC has resumed bus service from Madikeri to Kushal Nagar, Hassan, Mysuru and Virajpet after the situation showed a slight improvement.
The KSRTC has also resumed its service to Kozhikode in Kerala.
Traffic diversion at Kushalnagar
Traffic towards Mangaluru via Madikeri is being diverted at Kushalnagar town in Kodagu district.
The vehicles have to reach Mangaluru via Hebbale-Shanivarasanthe-Sakleshpura. Vehicles on the Madikeri route are being allowed only till Suntikoppa.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy inspected the flood-affected areas in Kodagu. With Kushalnagar receiving some sunshine now and then, the people in the town feel life would limp back to normalcy.
Flash floods and landslides have damaged the Madikeri-Mangaluru National Highway near Jodupala. Six people have been killed according to Home Minister G Parameshwara. “873 people have been rescued so far and 17 relief camps have been set up. Army, Navy, NDRF, SDRF, Civil Defense Quick Response and Fire Force teams are working in tandem to fasten the rescue ops. Senior ministers and officials are overseeing the relief measures,” Parameshwara tweeted.
The defence personnel is conducting operations to rescue nearly 1000 villagers who are stranded near Madikeri. According to the residents, the ATMs and petrol pumps are starting to run dry in the region. With road connectivity broken, ATMs are running out of money and fuel stations have gone dry.
The Bengaluru Kodava Samaja has sent more than five trucks of relief materials to various parts of the Kodagu. Relief materials, which include biscuits, milk powder, mineral water bottles, blankets, steel plates, diapers, mosquito coils, first aid kits, medicines, towels and sanitary napkins, have been dispatched.
(With inputs from Bharath Joshi and Darshan Devaiah B P in Bengaluru)
