Kodagu hit by deluge

NT Correspondent
Mysuru

The heavy rain in Kodagu district in the last 2-3 days has led to several villages getting cut off from taluks, many places getting inundated and landslides occurring at many places. Several trees and electric poles have been uprooted leaving villages in the dark with power restoration difficult due to incessant rains.

The water level in the rivers is rising constantly leaving peope worried whether there will be a repeat of the havoc induced by rains four years ago. Both Bhagamandala and Triveni Sangama are full and excess water is flowing onto the roads.

The link between Napoklu and Bhagamandala has been cut off while the inflow of water into Harangi Dam is increasing and around 15000 cusecs of water is being released to prevent any damage to the structure. There is a landslide on a small hillock on the way to Monnamgeri near Madikeri City obstructing vehicular movement.

The River Cauvery is in spate and the Kodagu district administration has asked people living in lowlying areas to move to safer places following the possibility of discharge of huge quantities of water from the dam. Meanwhile, two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have arrived in the district and have been deployed in several places as a precaution.

Rubber boats, life jackets and other emergency items have been kept ready to meet any eventuality. So far, there has been no major incident except land slides in small hillocks. The officials are in touch with the IMD.

Rainfall details

As on 8:30 am on Monday, the district has received 45.16 mm of rain. Since January 1 till June 3, Kodagu has recorded 891 mm of rain. Last year, during the corresponding period, the district had recorded 949.46 mm of rain. While Madikeri Taluk received 74.30 mm of rain, Virajpet taluk has received 31.32 mm, Somvarpet taluk 29.87 mm. The water level at the Harangi dam on Monday was 2855.24 feet as against the maximum level of 2859 feet. Last year on this day, the dam level was 2841.99 ft.m