Rains in Kodagu: District administration initiates precautionary measures, sets up helpline

The Hindu

27-05-2025

The district administration in Kodagu has set up helpline 08272-221077 to enable the public and officials to share information pertaining to heavy rains following the onset of monsoon.
In a review meeting conducted in Madikeri on Tuesday, the district in-charge secretary, N.V. Prasad, said that, in addition to the helpline, a WhatsApp number 8550001077 has also been enabled to facilitate the public and officials to share information related to disasters caused by heavy rains.
In addition to the above, disaster management helpline centers have been opened at various taluks — the numbers are Madikeri - 08272-228396; Virajpet - 08274-257328; Somwarpet– 08276-282045; Kushalnagar– 08276-200198; Ponnampet – 08274-249700.
To ensure greater coordination and efficiency among officials, instructions were issued to form WhatsApp groups for officials at the taluk level involving tahsildars, taluk panchayat executive officers, PDOs, gram panchayat secretaries, public works department, panchayat raj engineers, police, fire department, village assistants, and home guards. The nodal officers, already appointed at the district level, will coordinate with taluk-level officials to ensure effective disaster management, Mr. Prasad said.
Instructions were issued to ensure the immediate clearing of the roads and removal of the fallen trees, electricity poles, restoration of power supply, etc. If required, the local authorities should also open temporary relief centres and people living in vulnerable areas should be asked to relocate in case of intensification of rains, according to Mr. Prasad.
Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja said that there was no dearth of funds to take up relief measures, and the district administration had Rs 40 crore for managing natural disasters.
He pointed out that due to strong winds, trees have fallen on houses resulting in the death of two persons while 23 houses have suffered damaged. Relief was being paid as per government guidelines, said Mr. Venkataraja.
The DC said that areas prone to landslides and floods, have been identified by the Geological Survey of India and the fire department, police rescue teams, and home guards were on a standby to deal with any exigency. In all, 43 flood-prone and 44 landslide-prone areas have been identified, said the Deputy Commissioner.
Attention of the officials was also drawn to the condition of school and college buildings and they were instructed to bring any issues related to structural instability etc, to the higher authorities. The district in charge secretary called for proper implementation of the midday meal schools and ksheera bhagya and called for re-enrolment of children who have dropped out.
The health department officials were instructed to open care centres in every GP limits and ensure availability of essential medicines in areas prone to disaster. In addition, emphasis should also be on tackling infectious diseases common during the monsoon season, the officials were told.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the district administration from various departments.