Karnataka announces 1 day holiday, 3 day mourning over Ananth Kumar's demise

Shivamogga, Aug 9: Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi on Saturday virtually inaugurated Malgudi Museum at Arasalu in Karantaka's Shivamogga.

The old station building at Arasalu has been converted into museum.
BJP MP from Shivamogga BY Raghavendra said that the old station building at Arasalu has been renovated keeping with 'Malgudi' theme in mind.

"It is a tribute to the makers of the popular television serial 'Malgudi Days' as the station features predominantly in the episodes which broadcast on Doordarshan in the 1980s," he said.

The museum has been designed by a famous artist John Devraj, who was the part of the serial Malgudi Days. The Mysore Divisional Railway funded the museum.

"The approach road and station area wear a new transformed look. The innovative idea of having a tea-shop in a narrow gauge coach at Arasalu station adds charm to the green surroundings," the MP said.

"Popular and internationally acclaimed serial Malgudi Days was shot here in Arasalu. The SWR Mysore division manager Aparna Garg helped to transform the station to fictional village Malgudi," he added.

The museum is about 30 km from Shivamogga city. It has steam engines and bogies besides collections of photographs hanging on the wall taken during the time of shooting for Malgudi Days.

Madikeri, Aug 7: Two days after massive landslides triggered by heavy downpour in Kodagu, five people including a priest are still missing. 

The landslide, which originating at Brahmagiri Hills in Talacauvery, swept away two houses on Wednesday night.

This missing people are: Talacauvery temple chief Narayana Achar (70), his wife Shantha (70), brother Ananda Theertha Swami (87) and two assistants — Ravi Kiran (26) and Srinivas (30). Achar’s neighbour had shifted out of Bhagamandala earlier, fearing a landslide. 

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had to stop rescue operations due to bad weather. The operations resumed today. 

“There are many minor landslides on the way to the spot,” said Kodagu Deputy Commissioner C Annies K Joy, adding that the flood situation at Bhagamandala was not permitting earthmovers to reach the spot. Heavy rain between Wednesday and Thursday triggered landslides. 

Bhagamandala Panchayat Development Officer Ashok said a notice was issued to the priest’s family to shift out of the house, but they chose to stay back. 

On Thursday morning, when the Talacauvery temple staff went to check on Narayana Achar, as he had not reached the temple for the daily puja, they found levelled land and debris where Achar’s house stood. Utensils, puja material and clothes were found nearly 2 km away at Cherangala. 

As rains continued over the last few days, many rivers are flowing above the danger levels, forcing people to move to safer places.

 Responding to the situation, which is turning grimmer by the day, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who is currently undergoing treatment in a private hospital after testing positive for Covid-19, directed ministers to visit rain-hit areas and supervise relief efforts. He has also assured of providing required financial assistance for those affected.