LANDSLIDE LEAVES OVER 200 STRANDED IN KARNATAKA

Over 200 people are stranded due to landslides at Kalache village in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. Kalache is situated amidst the Western Ghats, about 30 km from the taluk headquarters of Yellapur. The only road from Yellapur has been damaged due to the landslide on Friday.

“Heavy rains have resulted in landslides in our village. We are completely disconnected. The landslide has severely damaged road connectivity and water is flowing on the roads making it impossible for the rescue teams to reach our village,” Ravindra Upadya, a resident of Kalache village told Deccan Chronicle over the phone.

“On Friday a woman died after a mudslide on her house. People are scared and concerned,” he said.

The villagers had contacted the officials and elected representatives. They said District Incharge Minister Arabail Shivaram Hebbar had sent a rescue team but the team could not make it to the village as the road was severely damaged.

“The village had only one road which has been damaged now. The only alternative is to walk from Hebbakumbri. But that too may be difficult now. It may take half a day from there to walk to our place for the rescue team,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to an agency report, nine people have died and three were missing in Karnataka so far,with torrential rains battering several parts of coastal, and north-interior region of the state, causing flood like situation and landslides, officials said on Saturday. A total of 31,360 people have been evacuated from low lying areas, while 22,417 people are taking shelter in 237 relief camps opened by the government.