Bengaluru: Poignant and heart-rending scenes continued to emerge as there was no respite from incessant downpour in flood and rain-affected areas of Karnataka piling up misery on the people. Twelve people have lost their lives and thousands have been stranded as lakhs of acres of land has been submerged under water.
Chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday announced Rs five lakh to next to the kin of people killed in the flood. “I have directed the officials that Rs five lakh should be given to the family members of those killed in the flood within 24 hours,” Yediyurappa told reporters in Mudhol and Bagalkote, where he reviewed the flood situation, conducted an aerial survey and visited the victims.
Almost all the major rivers in the state including Krishna, Cauvery, Kaali, Varahi, Markandeya, Bheema, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Tunga, Bhadrawati, Hemavati, Sharavati, Netravati, Tungabhadra, Kumaradhara, Varada, Kabini and their tributories are in spate, leaving thousands of people in the lurch.
In addition to Belagavi, the districts affected include Bagalakote, Vijayapura, Raichur, Yadgir, Gadag, Uttara Kannada, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad, Ballari, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu.
The situation turned grim in Korangaala in the Bhagamandala area of Kodagu district, the catchment of River Cauvery, when four bodies were brought out from under a house — on a foothill — collapsed due to landslip.
A video too emerged from Korangaala where two motorcycle borne youth were swept away when the clay-made bridge they were crossing, gave way.
Just a year ago, Kodagu was battered by the severe flood.
The current spell of downpour has come to haunt them again.
In Hole Aluru village under Rona Taluk of Gadag district, a large number of people were stranded as Malaprabha river is in spate.
The Railways had stated that the Mallapur dam in Hole Aluru was overflowing.
On the request of the district authorities a special train was arranged from Hole Aluru to Gadag.
Four helicopters including three big ones have been pressed into service and so far 71 people have been airlifted, the Chief Minister said.
The helicopters were also providing food and other necessary materials to those marooned in the flood, he said.
The chief minister once again appealed to the people to donate generously.
“There is unprecedented flood situation in the state.I appeal to all of you to donate generously.The Centre has assured of extending all assistance to Karnataka to deal with the situation arising out of severe floods and incessant rains in parts of the State…,” Yediyurappa said.
However, many people were not lucky and were stranded to face the worst ever flood of their life.
The villagers surrounded the Tahsildar on Friday complaining that the administration did not bother to supply food, medical assistance, shelter and clothes for the past three days.
The National Highway 75 was cut off at Sakaleshpura in Hassan district due to landslide at Yattinahalli.
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