It's scary out there as hillocks, bridges collapse

Residents of Kalmakaru are terrified as they have been facing nature’s fury. The Kadamakallu Gudda in Kalmakaru near Subrahmanya, situated on the other side of Jodupala village, collapsed on Friday night.

As a result, there was flash flood in Kadamakallu stream which has washed away a bridge in Mercara estate in Kadamakallu under Galibidu Gram Panchayat in Kodagu district. The estate lies on the border between Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts.

The floods have brought down huge trees, affecting the course of water in Kadamakallu stream. The tree logs were cleared by workers.

Mercara Estate assistant manager Jobi said around 500 people, including 10 families of estate labourers, were affected. There are labourers from Assam, Guwahati, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, apart from those in the locality.

A bridge situated in the 800-acre rubber and areca estate has been washed away. A makeshift bridge has been constructed by the workers to re-establish connection between the line houses and the estate.

Agriculturist Narendra Bilimale said the overflowing river inundated acres of rubber and areca plantations. Damaged bridges are being repaired. Two vented dams at Shettykatti and Bayalukatti have been washed away, he said. A number of mini-bridges and footbridges have been devastated by the flash floods, he said.