IMD issues red alert for several districts in Kerala

Bengaluru, Aug 7: The Karnataka government would provide Rs 10,000 immediate relief to families affected by heavy rains and flooding in districts across coastal, central and southern areas of the state, an official said on Thursday.

"Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has directed all the Deputy Commissioners in the rain-cum-flood-hit districts to provide Rs 10,000 interim relief to the affected families and Rs 5 lakh to those whose houses were completely damaged in the natural disaster," a Revenue Department official told media persons here.

As the south-west monsoon advanced and intensified, heavy and widespread rains with gusty winds have been lashing 12 of the 30 districts across the state, wreaking havoc and disrupting normal life due to flooding, landslides, lakes and ponds overflowing, and rivers and their tributaries in the spate.

"The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to make use schools, colleges and public places as relief centres to shelter the rain-cum-flood-hit families, as hostels and community halls have been converted into Covid care centres in the affected districts," said the official.

The affected districts have also been advised to conduct a survey of crop loss suffered by farmers for compensation under the centrally-sponsored Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Weather Based Crop Insurance Schemes.

Deputy Commissioners have been told to take preventive measures to protect and provide relief to the people from heavy rains, floods and landslides in the affected districts.

"Yediyurappa also directed ministers in-charge of the districts to remain in their constituency and visit the affected areas to assess damage caused by the rains and flash floods for compensation and relief aid," noted the official.

The Chief Minister on Wednesday announced Rs 50 crore for rescue and relief operations in the affected districts across the state.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological department has issued a red alert on heavy rains in the affected districts of Kodagu, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttar Kannada in the coastal region and in Shivamoga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Haveri in the Malnad region.

"Bagamandala in Kodagu district where Cauvery river springs near Talakaveri received a whopping 486 mm rain during the last 24 hours, causing flash floods and disrupting normal life as offices, shops and eateries remained shut and public transport was affected," added the official.

The water-level in Cauvery and Lakshmanatheertha is flowing at high level while the Sayi layout and Kuvempu layout Kushalnagar is inundated and the affected residents were shifted to safer location.

Mangaluru, July 29: Justifying the transfer of Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh, district in-charge minister Kota Shrinivas Poojari has accused Mangaluru MLA U T Khader of politicizing the issue. 

The IAS officer was transferred by the Karnataka government on July 28, a day after a saffron activist issued a death threat against her on social media after she warned of legal action against the miscreants who attack cattle traders.

Condemning the development, Mr Khader had tweeted that the state government has punished the deputy commissioner instead of punishing the culprit, who issued death threat.

Responding to Mr Khader’s tweet, Mr Poojari said that the transfer of the officer was on administrative ground. “It is unfortunate that Khader politicized a transfer carried out by the government on administrative ground. This is not Khader’s time to protect any accused,” tweeted Mr Poojari. 

It is worth mentioning here that Mr Khader was the district in-charge minister of Dakshina Kannada before Mr Poojari taking over the position. 

Meanwhile, police has arrested a person in connection with the death threat against the IAS officer.