: Many waterlogged areas in Kodagu await relief #IndiaNEWS #News Dubare shut for tourists; boats pressed into service; another quake at Chembu village Madikeri/Kushalnagar: The Southwest Monsoon

Many waterlogged areas in Kodagu await relief #IndiaNEWS #News
Dubare shut for tourists; boats pressed into service; another quake at Chembu village

Madikeri/Kushalnagar: The Southwest Monsoon has gained vigour, waterlogging many areas, especially in Madikeri and Somwarpet taluks that have been experiencing widespread heavy rainfall for over a week. The link between certain villages has been cut off and boats are being used to evacuate stranded residents. In the last 24 hours, till 8. 30 am today, Madikeri taluk has received a total rainfall of 538 mm and Somwarpet taluk has broken this record with 544 mm while it rained 412 mm in Virajpet taluk.

According to the data released by Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), 126 mm of rain has been recorded at Kalakerinidugane in Madikeri taluk, 125 mm of rain has been recorded at Bhagamandala, 124. 5 mm at Benguru in Madikeri taluk, 32. 5 mm at Karike, 133 mm at Chembu 125 mm at Peraje 127. 5 mm at Madikeri hobli and 225 mm rainfall has been recorded at Galibeedu.

Picture shows inflatable boatsbeing used at Bhagamandala to shift stranded residents.

Another quake at Chembu

Amidst heavy rainfall, Chembu village experienced another earthquake at 6. 22 am today measuring 1. 8 on the Richter Scale. Its epicentre was 1. 1 km southeast of Aranthodu in Sullia taluk, Dakshina Kannada bordering Kodagu.

As per the Seismic Intensity Map of the earthquake from the epicentre, the intensity observed is low and the tremor was felt up to a radial distance of 20-30 km from the epicentre.

Koynadu village in Madikeri taluk is the worst affected by the rains as water has entered many houses and some of the houses have been surrounded by at least 5-ft water. Residents have moved to safer places with their vehicles and valuables and the District Administration is planning to open relief centres.

The hill behind Koynadu Government Primary School has collapsed today. However, as of now, there has been no damage reported to the school building. At the Kindi Dam in Koynadu, tonnes of driftwood have gathered as the flood water is carrying them along.

Roads submerged, washed away

The Bhagamandala-Napoklu Road & Bhagamandala-Madikeri Road have been submerged in many places and vehicle movement has been banned. As a precaution, the District Administration has banned movement of heavy vehicles like timber trucks on the roads. However, buses, milk trucks, LPG and fuel supply vehicles are exempted.

The road that connects Kudupaje ancestral house at Thannimani in Bhagamandala has been washed away. The road is taken by many families daily and this is the only link road. Even the children go to school and the elderly are taken to hospitals on this road.