Published 17:58 IST, August 20th 2018
Karnataka Floods 2018 LIVE UPDATES: CM Kumaraswamy visits flood-hit Kodagu; Army & NDRF personnel deployed for rescue and relief efforts
Many parts of Kerala and Karnataka have witnessed unabating heavy rains through August, leading to almost unprecedented flooding
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Pinned Update at 5:45 PM: Here's how you can donate to the Karnataka Chief Minister's Calamity Relief Fund.
Pinned Update at 5:44 PM: Here's how you can donate to the Karnataka Chief Minister's Calamity Relief Fund via Paytm:
Pinned Update at 12:29 pm:
Update at 4:56 PM: Two rescue teams have been deployed by the Headquarters Karnataka Naval Area, each with a Gemini craft in Kodagu area of Karnataka. The Indian Navy teams are integrated with the NDRF and civil administration and have rescued a total of 67 people from Kalluru and Devasur villages in Kodagu district.
As per the latest update, these areas have become virtually inaccessible by road and naval personnel had to trek about 5 kilometeres every day to reach those marooned. Rescued personnel included two pregnant women and some elderly people. A relief centre has been set up near Madikeri by civil administration and rescue operations by the Navy will continue till the situation is brought under control.
Update at 2:52 PM: Relief material worth Rs.50 Lakh has been sent to flood affected areas of Kerala & Karnataka and we will be sending material worth Rs.1.5 crore more. Nation is proud of the rescue & relief operations conducted by our security forces in the flood affected areas: Baba Ramdev
Update at 12:51 PM: Death toll in Madikeri is 6. Rescue operations continue in Madikeri. This is the worst affected part of Kodagu district. Army began rescue operation at 10 am in village Hatti Hole. Around 150 people stranded.
Update at 12:24 AM: Rescue personnel saved a two-month-old baby in a nerve-racking rescue operation in Kodagu district, Karnataka
Update at 10:20 AM: CM Kumaraswamy held a telephonic conversation with Kodagu distrcit officials this morning. 317 people have been rescued, several still trapped in Mandakuru will be rescued today. NDRF and Army personnel are involved in the rescue operation.
Update at 8:00 AM: 2.5 lakh litres of water provided in the regions affected by the flood. Rs 5 lakh compensation announced to the next of kin of the deceased.
Update at 5:32 PM: Situation is under control, district administration is taking proper care. Nearly 60 people are stuck in a village in Kodagu & Indian Army has reached there. We are arranging helicopters but the weather is not allowing us to fly: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy
Update at 4:00 PM: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy takes aerial survey of the flood situation in his state
Update at 2:15 PM: Here's how you can do your bit for the people stranded in Karnataka floods. Send an SMS or WhatsApp text to 7738851669
Update at 1:50 PM: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy to conduct aerial survey of flood situation in his state.
Update at 12:42 PM: Over 11,000 houses damaged. 6 people have died in Kodagu. Banks have been told to stock up ATMs. Officials directed to give a list of roads which are damaged, and start repair work. Many officials from other areas have been shifted to Kodagu: Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy
Update at 12:38 PM: Over 1000 security personnel including NDRF, Navy, Army, Fire Dept, Home Guards etc are involved in rescue operations. Air Force is lifting stranded people and dropping relief material. 200 NCC cadets also working. We are working non stop: HD Kumaraswamy
Even as the Prime Minister has announced Rs 500 crore in aid for flood-hit Kerala, in neighbouring Karnataka, 200 Army and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) personnel have been deployed to conduct rescue operations in the Kodagu district which has suffered heavy rains, flooding and landslides.
As of noon on Saturday, over 800 people are still stranded, and rescue teams are spread over six locations. In a blow to their efforts, the MeT department has predicted heavy rains for the next five days, with red alerts having been issued in five districts, namely Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Chikkmagaluru and Shivamogga.
The state's Chief Minister, HD Kumaraswamy, is set to visit the relief camps in Kodagu and Madikeri on Friday afternoon, and a day later, on Saturday, he'll visit flood-hit areas in Nanjangood and Kabini.
Kumaraswamy chaired a high-level meeting in Bengaluru on Saturday morning before departing for Kodagu. He has directed the authorities in Kodagu to supply essential relief materials from nearby Mysuru.
On Thursday, Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman agreed to HD Kumaraswamy's request to deploy additional personnel for rescue operations, for which the Karnataka CM issued a letter of thanks. Kodagu, earlier known as Coorg, is a district in south Karnataka, bordering Kerala, which is well known as a tourism hotspot on account of its vast rolling hills, as well as for its coffee plantations.
Many parts of Kerala and Karnataka have witnessed unabating heavy rains through August, leading to almost unprecedented flooding, especially in Kerala where, as per the Chief Minister's office, 324 people have died, over 2.2 lakh have been evacuated to relief camps, 80 dams have had to be opened -- many for the first time -- and almost Rs 20,000 crore in property damage has been caused.
14:54 IST, August 20th 2018