3 die as rain batters Kodagu, 512 houses damaged, 700 people in relief camps

Mysuru: Heavy rain battering Kodagu district claimed three lives in Kaatakeri and virtually turned it into an island on Thursday with landslides and floods reported from multiple locations.

One more rain victim being treated at the government hospital in Madikeri, is said to be in critical condition. Around 512 houses have been damaged in different locations and over 700 people have been shifted to 10 relief camps.

While Thanthipaala, Hemmepaalu, Maakkodlu and a few other places have been hit by landslides, around 60 people are said to be stranded in Devasthooru village due to the floods. The road between Kushalnagar and Hassan and Bhagamandala and Ayyangeri has been closed and road connectivity to Mangaluru, Mysuru and Kerala has been badly hit. Rescue operation Although Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy turned to the Union government for help to airlift 50 people stranded in Makkandur, Kodagu, the operation was aborted due to unfavourable weather conditions.

NDRF and SDRF teams have joined hands with the Kodagu district administration in relief operations, but have found it tough going due to the heavy rain.

The teams however, managed to rescue a mother and her 20- day- old baby, Deepa, stranded due to the flood in Guyya village.

Meanwhile, with the Kabini reservoir continuing to receive large inflow due to the heavy rain in Wyanad in Kerala, a flood alert has been issued for people living on banks of the rivers downstream in the Cauvery basin.

Flooded Several acres of agricultural land and houses in Dasanapura, Mullooru, Hale Hampapura and Hale Hanagalli were partially flooded as the reservoir released more water than usual on Thursday, and measures are being taken to shift the villagers to safer ground.

Minister Puttarang Shetty, who reviewed the flood situation, directed the officers to open relief centres in schools and colleges in Kollegal.

On Thursday, KRS received this year's highest inflow of 123145 cusecs.