Rain wreaks havoc in Dakshina Kannada district, many shifted to safety
Mangaluru: Following incessant rainfall in the foothills of the Western Ghats, several houses were flooded and many families shifted in Kadaba, Puttur, Sullia and Bantwal taluks in Dakshina Kannada district on Wednesday.
Kukke Subrahmanya virtually turned into an island as it was cut off due to flooding in the rivers around the village and several families in the region were shifted to safer places. The government had opened temporary shelters with Sri Vidyaprasanna Teertha Swamiji of Samputa Narasimha Math of Subrahmanya providing food and material to the flood affected families in the region.
Houses were flooded in Ichlampady and Bantwal. Due to the increase in water level in the river, the road was blocked at Udane on NH 75. The children who were stuck in the school near Udane due to the flood, were moved to safer places by officials. Temporary shelters have been opened in places like Bantwal, Kukke and Ullal. Taking into account the heavy rains on Wednesday morning, the tahsildars of Bantwal and Sullia declared a holiday for the schools in their limits. Meanwhile for the second time in three days, there was 'Sangama,' of Kumaradhara and Netravati river at Uppinangady on Wednesday. In recent years, this is said to be first time the 'Sangama' is happening twice within such a short time.
For the people of Dakshina Kannada, travelling to Bengaluru and Mysuru has become a Herculean task with the roads on the two important Ghats blocked due to landslides. The NH 75 through Shiradi Ghat which is the main connecting route to the hinterland, has been blocked since Tuesday due to landslides. This road was shut for concretisation since January and was opened only in July. The road has now been shut again.
The other National Highway NH 275 connecting Madikeri via Sampaje Ghat too has been shut due to landslides. With these two important roads shut, the only option left is to take the NH 73 via Charmadi Ghat. This road witnesses heavy traffic as all vehicles travelling to Bengaluru and even Mysuru have to take this route. However travelling on this road is risky as it is a narrow road and is not in good condition.
Meanwhile KSRTC officials are contemplating the possibility of running buses via Kudremukh. At present the KSRTC is providing only Express (ordinary) bus services via Charmadi Ghat. Officials said that from Thursday, they will try to run some Volvo buses via Kudremukh-Kalasa and Kottigehara to Bengaluru. However it will be only a day service. This is likely to help people who travel in premium buses.
Efforts are also on to start Rajahamsa (small length) buses via Charmadi Ghat.
