Fear persists: no freedom for three schools!

aaron, Aug 16, 2019, 3:45 PM IST

Sullia: Today, one year ago, Jodupala area was devastated by natural disaster and although peace covers the area now, the fear of what might happen tomorrow still persists within the hearths of the residents here.

Last year on August 16^th, the stream located Jodupala along Mani-Mysuru highway, which took form of a merciless annihilator is flowing peacefully, up to itself this year. However, the shadow of the catastrophe left behind by the destructive form of the stream still remains.

Independence day is not being celebrated this year at the government schools at 2^nd Monnangeri, Kaluru and Hebbettageri near here. A year has passed since the schools were locked. This situation arose after the landslides forced guardians to shift to gruel centres and the lack of children forced the closure of schools.

Shops open up

Shops and hotels have started functioning again. But as there is a ban on the movement of heavy vehicles here, business has taken a hit, explains the owner of a small hotel nearby.

A temporary bus stop has been erected for passengers. Beneath the road lies an RCC house, a house and a shop which were decimated by the violent form of the stream here still exist has a stark reminder of the disaster.

Cloudy skies

2^nd Monnangeri, Kartuja, Talatmane areas were covered by grey skies in the afternoon itself. There is continuous drizzling. The road has been repaired.

Rented house is the only option

In the backdrop of the non-completion of the construction of houses for the victims and the rehabilitation work, the only option the victims have is to live in a rented house. Observing the rain intensity, those living on top of the hills are planning to leave and migrate towards a safer location. Last year, 48 villages in Kodagu fell prey to natural calamity. 850 families lost their homes. 20 people lost their lives while more than 3,200 people became victims. 52 gruel centres were established. The loss incurred was more than Rs 10,000 Crore.

Four drowned!

Four people of a single family who were residing in a house on the hilly side of Jodupala met a watery end due to the natural disaster that occurred at Jodupala on August 17, 2018. The deceased are identified as Jodupala resident and Sullia hospital D Group worker Basappa, Gowramma, Monisha and Manjula of Bettatturu in Made village. The corpse of Basappa, Monisha were located in a drain on Aug 18/ 19 respectively. Gowramma’s corpse was found after a week. Since Manjula’s corpse could not be located, she was laid to rest by using a replica.