Flight chartered by KSCC brings 173 stranded Kannadigas from Sharjah to Mangaluru

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.

Bengaluru, Aug 9: karnataka's Health Minister B Sriramulu has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He has been hospitalised and is being treated for Covid-19. The minister has also asked all of those who came in contact with him recently to take necessary precautions.

Sriramulu made the announcement in a series of tweets on Sunday. He said, “After symptoms of flu, I have tested positive for coronavirus today.”

“Under the leadership of Honorable Chief Minister (BS Yediyurappa), all the departments of the government, including my department, have been working hard against Covid-19. From the time of corona's appearance, I have had the opportunity to visit 30 districts and work in harmony with the government's desire to treat people well. It is in this backdrop that I am going to be hospitalized and treated,” B Sriramulu said.

Karnataka’s Health Minister also added, “All those who have been in contact with me recently have been requested to take precautionary measures.”

Earlier this month, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa also tested positive for Covid-19. The state's Leader of Opposition and former CM Siddaramaiah of the Congress also declared that his samples too had returned positive for the infection. Both of the leaders are undergoing treatment for Covid-19 at the privately-owned Manipal hospital in Bengaluru.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Karnataka has 79,773 active cases while a total of 89,238 patients have been discharged in the state after recovering from Covid-19 and 3091 have succumbed to it.