Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Aug 14: The crack that appeared at a hillock at Tenkila Darkhasu in the outskirts of the city, which is currently under the control of Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation, widened on Tuesday August 13. The inner layer of the earth that is exposed appears to have been inverted.

Eleven families living in the area have shifted to safer places fearing the worst. Three families have been accommodated in the community hall belonging to the municipality while other families have started living with their relatives.

When the crack initially appeared at the middle near the foot of the hillock, it was about 200 metres long and one inch wide. On Tuesday, the crack widened to about three inches. The inner layer seemed to have slid down by three inches. On the higher levels of the hillock, several horizontal and vertical cracks have appeared.

Acting deputy director in the department of geology Padmashree and hydrologist Vasudha visited Tenkilagudde on Monday afternoon. After verifying, they expressed the opinion that the area may suffer from tremors. Therefore, the 11 families living in the vicinity were convinced to shift away from the area, which was attended by sub-divisional officer H K Krishnamurthy and his team.

MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor observed that prima facie it appears that the hillock poses danger. He said that the families settled in the community hall are being provided all facilities including food, health check up, stay etc. He said that if there are chances of the area facing any catastrophes in the future all the families would be provided with permanent alternative residential facility elsewhere.