As a native of Assam, natural disasters are nothing new for Matyas as he has witnessed the fury of the Brahmaputra in spate during monsoon. He is one of hundreds of plantation workers housed in relief camps in Kodagu.
But he was stunned by the sheer ferocity of the landslips and flash floods caused by the recent rains in the district. “I came here only four years ago and was used to heavy rains in Assam, Meghalaya and other places in the region. But what happened on Thursday when the landslips began was scary,” Matyas recalled as he settled with his family members in one of the relief camps at Suntikoppa.
Kodagu attracts migrant workers from Assam in thousands during coffee harvesting season and their journey down south also takes them to the adjoining Chikkamagaluru, which is another traditional coffee growing area. But incessant rainfall has wiped out the crop and there may be no fresh wave of migrant workers to Kodagu this year.
But for those already in Kodagu and now lodged in the relief centres, the future is bleak. “Lack of work means no wages. I will have to go where work is available,” said Matyas, who was uncertain of his next move.
