Flood Relief Materials from ‘Kodava Students’ Assn With Love To Our ‘Kodagu People’
- RELIEF ITEMS FOR THE PEOPLE AFFECTED IN FLOOD IN KODAGU DISTRICT COULD BE DONATED AT SDM LAW COLLEGE, M G ROAD, MANGALURU ON SUNDAY 19 AUG AND MONDAY 20 AUG BETWEEN 9 AM -5 PM.
Mangaluru: While people of Mangaluru being Good Samaritans in donating flood relief materials and also cash contribution to the flood-affected people in Kerala, now they have one more sacrifice to make, by showing their generosity to the people of Kodagu who also have been affected by severe and disastrous floods and landslides. Kodagu continue to face rain fury, where several hillocks have caved in and several villages wiped out due to landslides. Several are feared dead due to floods and landslides. More than 600 people are waiting to be airlifted in Kodagu, but inclement weather has hampered helicopter operations.
Transportation on Madikeri-Hassan state highway is under water following the release of a huge quantity of water from Harangi reservoir, therefore no one can reach Kodagu/Madikeri- even to deliver food or meet their loved ones back home. The hanging bridge is damaged at Kanive Ramalingeshwara temple, at the confluence of Cauvery and Harangi rivers. Flood situation is grim due to the discharge of 1.2 lakh cusecs of water from the Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir in Mandya. Telephone services have been hit and a large number of villages are in the dark as thousands of electricity poles have been uprooted. The services of HAM operators are also being utilized. The Karnataka road transportation agency and Railways have suspended services to, Kodagu/Madikeri
At least three persons are confirmed dead and two others feared dead in Virajpet and Madikeri taluks of Kodagu district. The government had announced Rs 100 crore additional funds for Kodagu districts, but the loss is estimated around Rs 1000 crores. In Madikeri, several persons had a close shave when mounds of soil from a hillock fell on shops and houses near the private bus stand. Shockingly, a house slid down a hill in a landslide near Muttappa temple. Hundreds of people in the district are awaiting rescue after being cut off from the mainland due to landslides but rescue operations have been hit as many roads are severely damaged. On Friday, about 60-70 mm rainfall was recorded in Kodagu district with showers forecast to continue in the night. Rail connectivity is also affected and speed posts were transferred by air.
In order to supply the needed flood relief materials to the flood affected people in Kodagu district, the members of Kodava Students Association of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi had organized a press meet at Hotel Woodlands on Saturday, 18 August requesting the people of Mangaluru and DK to contribute flood relief materials, except cash. Addressing the media, spokesperson on behalf of Kodava Students Association, S P Chengappa, also the former president of Mangalore Bar Association said, ” It’s indeed the time of the hour that we generous citizens of Mangaluru and DK have to do something towards the people in Kodagu who have been affected by torrential rains, floods and landslides”.
“Even though Chief Minister Kumaraswamy has sanctioned Rs 100 Crore already, for which I am very grateful, but I kindly request him to sanction Rs 1000 cr since the damage done in Kodagu district is way beyond this amount. Kodagu district gets rain, there is no doubt about it, but this kind of devastating and torrential rains is seen for the FIRST time by Kodagu people, and they are shocked, and also fear what could happen next-will there be an Earthquake or something like a Tsunami. It is learnt that nearly 900 people have lost homes and are homeless with no place to go or stay. There has been no communication between people since the mobile network is lost, no electricity either. ” added Chengappa.
He further said, “The reason for all these landslides and floods, is for the fact government allowed farmland to be converted into commercial sites. I strongly urge the govt to stop land conversion, and also stop the new business of Home-stays, resorts, hotels that are coming up in large numbers. The concrete infrastructure has ruined the greenery of Kodagu and has also resulted in this disastrous chaos, where our very own people are suffering in Kodagu. Therefore we have organized two days of Relief Items Collection on Sunday 19 August and Monday 20 August from 9 am to 5 pm, at SDM Law College, MG Road, Mangaluru-where people can donate sweaters, blankets, bed sheets, personal toiletry items, Kitchen utensils, water, milk powder, certain kinds of medicine, first aid kits, mosquito repellents, etc. ONLY NEW ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Thanking you in anticipation for your support:
Other members present during the press meet were-K G Boppanna-President, Shifali Chengappa-Vice President, B K Karan Muthanna- Secretary, K Nanjappa- Treasurer, Neha Neelamma- Co-Secretary, among many other members of Kodava Students Association.
