HEAVY RAIN-WIND-TREE FELLING IN KODAGU-TWO DEATHS REPORTED

Madikeri June 23 Heavy rain,wind and tree felling caused two deaths in Kodagu. Pani Eravara Chunde a woman Village Panchayath member,of Mugutageri Village succumbed to injuries. She was 52 and left her husband and children. She was walking on the streets from her village today morning for her regular work. When pouring of rain was brisk she stopped under a tree for shelter. A branch of the tree fell on her. She was moved to nearby Gonikoppal hospital. She was then succumbed to injuries.

Another incident is reported from Puchekal village near Kutta,South Kodagu. A lorry belongs to Umamaheshwarti petrol bunk, Gonikoppal was moving towards calicut from Kodagu. When the lorry reached Puchekal village, the driver found a big tree fallen due to rain and wind and the road was blocked. Both the driver and the lorry cleaner stopped the lorry during yesterday night and slept inside. Suddenly during the wee hours today morning a tree was suddenly fell on the lorry killing the cleaner

Maleyali Mani (32)..Driver Dinesh was slightly injured.

The birth place of river Cuavery and Bhagamandala are completely isolated from other part of the district. Buses could not cross. The Bhagamandala Cauvery Sangama is overflowing. The villagers who went to Bhagamndala for routine works yesterday are held up on the other side of the river bank.yesterday people were crossing the bridge with a temporary rope way provided by the contractors who are doing the renovation work at the temple site. Today this movement is also stopped due to heavy rain and wind.

The approach road from Madikeri and another road from Napoklu to Bhagamandala is blocked.

Heavy rain is pouring in Madikeri and surrounding places. Electricity supply is tampered in the district. The main supply is stopped since yesterday night due to falling of trees and branches and electric wires in many places. In Madikeri town electric wires are hanging dangerously due to heavy wind, falling of tree and branches and continuous pouring of rain. Thalacauvery has recorded more than 10 inches of rain in one day. In Sowwarpet Thaluk, the remote Shanthalli, Pushpagiri belt and other villages recorded more than 5 inches of rainfall in a day.In Virajpet Thaluk also incident of tree falling on a bus and collapsing of houses is heard.

In Madikeri town at Indiranagar extension more than 300 residents are held up in their houses without outside movement due to the soil erosion which has blocked the approach road. The residents also fear the damage to their houses. Already walls of some ahouses are broken. The response from the City Municipal authorities is not seen. The youths belong to Jyothi Yuvaka Sangha, Indiranagar expressed their disisatisfaction over the negative attitude. However some s social orgaonisations are helping there.

PHOTO:CAUVERY OVERFLOW IN BHAGAMANDALA