Siddu visits landslide-hit spot in Kodagu district

Kodagu, NT Bureau: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday visited and inspected the landslide-hit area near Srimangala Kutta village in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district and held discussions with officials and locals. More than 20 families had lost their homes due to the collapsing of the hill.

The CM directed the immediate completion of the suspension bridge construction, repair work, and road building to alleviate the problems of locals. Chief Secretary (CS) Shalini Rajneesh briefed Siddaramaiah about the effects of the landslide and the safety measures and works that are being undertaken by the administration.

Kodagu District InCharge Minister NS Boseraju, Congress MLA from Virajpet AS Ponnanna and Manthar Gowda, the party man who represents Madikeri in the Assembly and senior officials from the revenue department were present on the occasion.

There have been at least three other landslides in Karnataka due to heavy rainfall and the earth coming loose. One happened near Shirur village of Ankola taluk in Uttara Kannada district in mid-July and it took at least 10 lives.

Another happened in Londa taluk in Belagavi district which blocked a railway track but it didn’t take South Western Railway (SWR) to clear it. Yet another landslide covered a railway track in Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district and is yet to be fully cleared.