Papaya, plantain plants destroyed; electric poles, transformers fall to ground; villagers suffer power cuts; trees uprooted, traffic disrupted

Pandavapura: Heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorm lashed several parts of Pandavapura taluk on Saturday night resulting in destruction of several properties. However, no loss of life has been reported.

There was rainstorm in Ragimuddanahalli, Harohalli and other villages which resulted in many electrical poles coming down. Trees have been uprooted. The roofs of a school, houses, brick factories, poultry farms have been blown away. In Baby Grama, the roof of DMS School has been blown off and huge losses estimated.

The villages have been plunged into darkness as tens of transformers have been damaged and electric poles fallen to the ground. Since there is no power, the villagers were seen struggling for water as the supply has been cut off.

Traffic disruption: Due to rainstorm, trees and electric poles have fallen on KRS Road in Pandavapura town. This has resulted in traffic disruption as a number of KSRTC buses ply on Mysuru-Shimoga and KRS routes that pass through Pandavapura.

People upset: The villagers have expressed their ire complaining that even though the electric poles keep falling whenever there is rainstorm, the CESC (Chamundeshwari Electric Supply Company) officials have failed to take any steps to improve the situation.

In front of TAPCMS farmers’ auditorium, three electric poles have fallen. In the taluk’ Baby, Chikkade, Ragimuddanhalli, Shambunahalli, Keretonnuru, Bellale, Lakshmisagar, Neelanahalli Chandre, T.S. Chatra and other villages nearly 60 electric poles have fallen and eight transformers have been damaged.

Minister visits: District in-charge Minister C.S. Puttaraju on hearing about the damages visited the taluk and inspected more than 50 houses in different villages including the DMS Jnana Kuteera School in Baby village where roofs have been blown away.

He also saw the transformers damaged resulting in loss of lakhs of rupees. The Minister who visited the taluk on the direction of Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, asked the CESC officials to take up the repair and restoration work of all the electric poles and transformers on a war footing. On the occasion Sri Mutt Secretary T.P. Shivakumar, former President Siddalingadevaru and others were present.

Cyclone Fani to hit TN, Andhra; Rains likely in State for three days

Chennai: The Indian Meteorological Department yesterday said that the approaching cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ in the Bay of Bengal was likely to develop into an “extremely severe cyclone” in the next two days. It warned coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Odisha to brace for very strong winds, heavy rainfall and rough seas.

This is likely to result in heavy rainfall in the coming week in the Karnataka including several districts in the Karavali region, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Cyclone Fani could generate gusts of winds with speeds up to 50-60 km per hour in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the IMD said.

In the next one week there is likely to be a rainfall of 100 mm to 200 mm. The cyclone is likely to attain its strongest force on May 1 and 2, when at its centre with   the wind speed of 185 km per hour, said the IMD.

CM asks Chief Secretary to take precautionary measures

Madikeri: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has directed Chief Secretary Vijay Bhaskar to take precautionary measures before the onset of monsoon.

He said that due to heavy rain in the monsoon season last year, Karavali region had suffered extensive damage.

As the Poll Code is in force, the meeting cannot be held. Hence, the CM has directed the Chief Secretary to take precautionary measures.

Papaya, banana plants destroyed: In the one-and-a-half acre farm belonging to farmer Basavaraju of Attiganahalli 1,500 papaya plants have been destroyed due to rainstorm. “I had spent Rs.5 lakh to grow papayas but it has been completely destroyed,” a distraught Basavaraju said.

In the farm of Doddegowda in Mahadeswarapura village about 400, Halebeedu Thimmegowda’s about 300 and Kumar’s about 500 papaya plants have been destroyed and losses of lakhs of rupees estimated. The plantain crop belonging to farmer Puttegowda in taluk’s Chinnakurali has been destroyed due to rainstorm. Tahsildar L. Patil and Revenue Department officials visited the villages and inspected the damages.

The district has suffered huge losses due to rainstorm. In the Melukote Assembly Constituency, the roof of  DMS Jnana Kuteera School run by Trinetra Mahant Shivayogi, has been blown off and the loss is estimated to be Rs.10 lakh. In the taluk, the roof tiles and zinc sheets of nearly 50 houses in many villages have been blown off. Even papaya and banana plants have been destroyed in several farms in the taluk resulting in huge crop losses. I have directed the Deputy Commissioner to immediately visit the damaged areas and submit a list on estimated losses. The State Government will be requested for relief.

—C.S. Puttaraju, District in-charge Minister