LIFE COMES TO STANDSTILL IN KODAGU;

Thunderous rainfall with heavy winds has uprooted several trees all over the district bringing life to a standstill. The district administration has declared three days holiday to schools in the district from tomorrow.

While one person died of cold inside a bus shelter at Virajpet, a lady was injured as her house collapsed at Valnur Tyagathur. An ancient Mahadeva temple at Moovathoklu village near Madapur was razed down as two heavy trees fell on it. Over 84 houses in Virajpet taluk are partially damaged, according to the available reports. A kerala resident, Malayali Babu aged 76, died at a bus shelter at Kadnur village near Virajpet today. The villagers said that he died due to cold weather. He was working as a labourer in an estate and used to stay in the bus shelter.

A tree fell on the house and a shop at Valnur Tyagathur village near Kushalnagar and injured a lady. Bhagya suffered severe injuries as the house collapsed on her along with a tree. One Somu was also injured as a shop he was in collapsed partially.

Dozens of trees are falling on high way and other interior roads blocking the way.

KPTCL and PWD workers are struggling to clear the way.

While roads leading from Somwarpet and Madikeri were blocked due to the tree fall and landslides, roads around Bhagamandala, Napoklu and Virajpet were often blocked due to the over flow of Cauvery, other rivers and streams.

People living in low-lying areas are advised to move to safety. Water level at Karadigod, which had claimed two lives, two years back, has reached danger level and people living on either side of the river are running to safety.

Bhagamandala receved 117.35 inches of rainfall this year as against 102.77 inches of last year. Madikeri registered 63.98 inches against 71.01 of last year. Virajpet received 46.46 inches against 53.75 inches, last year. Somwarpet registered 41.56 against 42.99 inches, last year.

WATER TO TAMILNADU

Mr.Bharathlal Mina, managing director of Cauvery Nigam told this correspondent here today that Tamilnadu is already receiving water as water from Harangi reservoir is flowing towards Krishnaraja sagar.

He however agreed that KRS is yet to be filled. Mr.Bharatlal Mina arrived in Kodagu to inspect the cauvery river basins. He also visited Talacauvery, bhagamandala and Harangi along with state chief engineers, officials and architects.

MUDDY SPORTS AT GONIKOPPAL

Every year the muddy sports during rainy season attract the large number of spectators at Gonikppal and Kaggodlu villages. The arrangement for the sports at Kaggodlu, may take a month’s time. However, the various orgonisations at Gonikoppalu have already conducted this attractive sports in the paddy fields of Bopanna The press club president Anil H.T. had inaugurated the sports. “Rural spors should be given prominence “he opined. The sports was arranged by Manil Youth Association and Seva Samithi,and also Manil Aiyappa self help groups. M.W.Aiyappa, Kalapanda Sudhir,Maletira Shrinivas,,M.Nanjunda.Ballanda Prathap and Tatu Monnappa were present. Limra team of Kadanga village lifted the “ V.S.T.Tiller Tractor Ltd; winners cup”, while the Sampaje Payaswini team won the runners cup. Other individual prizes were also distributed for various type of muddy sports.

Photo: A scene of the Muddy sports.

RESIDENTS OPPOSE HYDAL POWER PROJECT

The local people of Irpu, Shrimangala and surrounding places have decided to agitate against the proposed hydal power project at Irpu falls. Cauvery Sene, kodagu Dam Construction oppose Committee,, Shri Rameshwara temple administrative committee at Irpu and the surrounding residents have jointly decided to oppose the project. They havee resolved to agitate against the project, if the concerned officials allow a private company to generate hydal power-, using the Irpu Shri Lakshamana Thirtaha falls.

Irpu Shri Rameshwara temple is a pilgrim center where many number of devotees gather .The tourism department has called this as Irpu falls area. The villagers here object this consideration and they suggest calling this place as Irpiu Shri Rameshwar piligrim center. The proposed hydal project even affects the environment when the contract companies cut the trees in the surrounding place to implement their project- analyses the villagers.