With the situation in flood-hit Kodagu coming under control, the authorities announced that the rescue teams from the Army, Navy and Air Force were being withdrawn, while one team of NDRF will remain.
Relief Commissioner Gangaram Baderia said that only one NDRF team will be stationed in Kodagu for emergencies, and additional support would be provided if needed. Mr. Baderia said 1,019 rescuers from various agencies were stationed in Kodagu district for rescue and relief operations ever since the region was hit by flashflood and landslips and they had brought 4,450 people to safety.
As a fallout of the heavy rainfall, the authorities pressed into service one column of Dogra Regime of 50 personnel besides one column of Army Engineering Task Force, comprising 75 personnel, who were assisting the district administration in restoration of critical roads. While the Navy had deployed 12 surface rescuers with rafts, the Air Force had three aircraft of which 2 AN-32s were deployed for transporting relief materials. One M-17 helicopter was on standby at Mysuru for rescue.
Following a semblance of normalcy in weather conditions, people have started returning to their respective villages from the relief camps in cases where there is access. As on Sunday, there were 32 relief camps in Kodagu in which 3,227 people are residing, compared to more than 7,000 people who were accommodated in 52 relief camps last week.
According to the authorities, 20 people have died in the landslips and floods in Kodagu and 2,200 houses have been damaged. While the rescue missions by the Army is off, the relief camps will continue to function and the authorities are focussing on providing temporary shelters for those who have lost their homes in the natural calamity.
