From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 10: Having spent most of this week in monitoring the situation in flood-affected districts of Northern Karnataka region and holding a series of meetings on the rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures to be taken in the devastated areas, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has now decided to turn his attention on flood-ravaged coastal Karnataka districts.
Yediyurappa will be visiting flood-affected areas of Dakshina Kannada (DK) district after arriving in Mangaluru on August 11, where he is expected to stay overnight.
The Chief Minister will proceed to Udupi district on August 12.
This will be his first official visit to the coastal Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts after becoming the State’s Chief Minister for the fourth time on July 26.
Instead of the original plans to conduct an aerial survey, the Chief Minister had to decide travelling by road and visit the flood-hit areas. The programme to conduct aerial survey in both the coastal districts had to be cancelled as weather conditions were not favourable, said an official statement.
In the meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, visited the flood-ravaged areas of Belagavi and also visited Hubballi after conducting aerial survey of the region.
Worst flood havoc in 45 years
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister told reporters in Bengaluru that more than half the State, especially the districts in the northern parts of Karnataka, coastal and malnad regions, was facing the worst-ever flood havoc which was unprecedented in the last 45 years.
“The total estimated loss of damages is Rs 1,427.30 crore as per details presently available,’’ he said indicating that the final picture will be known only after the floods recede and the situation turns to normalcy.
The State Government has already released Rs 100 crore for taking up urgent relief measures in the flood affected districts, Yediyurappa said.
The Chief Minister appealed to the public, corporates and other institutions to provide necessary humanitarian assistance, including cash donations to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The State Government is constantly monitoring the situation and has been in regular touch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Mnister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and other Central ministers besides coordinating with the neighbouring Maharashtra and Kerala governments.
As many as 24 people have lost their lives and 75 taluks in 16 districts were completely marooned by floods. The State Government will be distributing compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the bereaved members of the families of the deceased, he said.
"The situation is grim in 1,024 villages due to floods,’’ he said pointing out that over 7 lakh people have been shifted to safer places from the flood-affected places.
Apart from loss of lives and properties, Yediyurappa said 222 cattle have perished in the floods and over 44000 cattle have been shifted to safer places.
The State Government has already opened 624 relief centres and has taken steps to provide food, clothing, medicines and other essential facilities.
While over 12,000 houses have collapsed or suffered severe damages due to floods, over 3 lakh hectares of agricultural land has been damaged due to floods and landslides. As many 530 bridges and 56 public buildings have been damaged and nearly 2500 kms of roads have been damaged.