Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner Bagadi Gautam on Thursday banned entry of tourist vehicles to hill stations in Chikkamagaluru taluk till August 30.
There will be no entry to the road connecting Kaimara check-post to Mullayyanagiri, Seethalayyanagiri and Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah.
The Deputy Commissioner, in his order, said the hill stations had been receiving heavy rain for the last four or five days. There were instances of landslips and tree-fall on the road. Considering the reports submitted by the Forest Department and the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department and in the interest of the safety of tourists, the ban had been imposed, he said.
The hill stations of Chikkamagaluru attract hundreds of tourists during the rainy season.
The district administration has estimated the total loss caused owing to heavy rain and landslips at ₹240 crore. Extensive damage has been reported in Mudigere taluk, where the loss has been estimated at ₹140 crore. In Chikkamagaluru taluk, the loss is ₹28 crore, in N.R. Pura it is ₹16 crore, in Sringeri ₹20 crore, and in Koppa taluk, the loss is ₹35 crore.
Owing to heavy rain, the about 950 km of road has been damaged. As many as 159 bridges and 34 tanks have also been damaged. As per the preliminary estimation, crops grown on 1,565 acres have been lost.
Schools to reopen
The Deputy Commissioner said schools would reopen on Friday. A couple of schools where relief centres have been set up would, however, remain closed.
