“We were brought to safety by the rescue teams on Friday and we’re now staying at a friend’s house. There is no way people of the villages near Makkandur can go back as there is nothing left there,” said Jagdeep, whose family was stranded in a village close to Makkandur.
The magnitude of devastation owing to landslips and rains in the flood-ravaged Kodagu district is still unfolding even as rescue operations continued on Saturday despite inclement weather. There are conflicting reports on the number of deaths, though six have been officially confirmed.
Nearly 2,000 personnel from the Army, National and State Disaster Response Force, and Quick Response Team of Karnataka Civil Defence have reached out to people stranded in remote hilly areas where scores are still stuck.
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About 100 people marooned at Mukkodlu village in Somwarpet taluk were rescued and shifted to Madapura relief centre after the team negotiated their way through overflowing sludge and water along a treacherous terrain. According to reports, the civil defence team and Army personnel trekked about 13 km for the rescue mission.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu Praveen Kumar said nearly 3,000 people have been evacuated and the numbers are decreasing, but rescue missions will continue.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who conducted an aerial survey on Saturday, said 60 people are still stranded and they have to be airlifted by operating helicopters. Though they are ready, they cannot be pressed into service owing to bad weather. More than 2,500 people have been evacuated so far, he said.
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CM’s visit
Mr. Kumaraswamy has cancelled his visit to Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts scheduled for Sunday. Instead, he will continue his survey of Kodagu district on Sunday also.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people from Makkandur, Mandalpatti, and Adageri have taken shelter in one of the 31 relief camps. The villages have been evacuated around Makkandur, but people are still missing. Bopanna, based in Bengaluru, said there was no information about his family members near Makkandur though he learnt through other contacts that they were safe.
About 150 people are housed in a private resort close by, but there are fears of landslips from Kotta Betta, which has added to the concern, he said. Kadanakolli village on Mysuru-Sakleshpur road was devastated by a landslip, while people around Sampaje were being evacuated over fear of landslips.