Kodagu witnesses incessant rains; man dies in tree collapse

Torrential rains in Kodagu cause tree-related fatalities, power outages, and significant damage, prompting urgent response and assistance deployment.

One person died when a tree collapsed on him in Banangala village of Virajpet taluk on Tuesday, as heavy rains continued to lash Kodagu.

The deceased, identified as P.C. Vishnu, 65, suffered grievous injuries after a mango tree got uprooted by the gusty wind and crashed on him around 7.30 a.m. He was rushed to the hospital but died enroute.

This is the second such death in a tree fall incident in Kodagu since rains began pounding the district five days ago. Gowri, 50, of Arji village – also in Virajpet taluk - had died under similar circumstances on Saturday.

In another case of tree fall, the tiled roof of a house in Koralalli village in Shanivarsanthe Hobli was damaged. In Bhagamandala, the birthplace of the river Cauvery, the rainfall has been heavy for the last three days. Authorities deployed boats for public commute after a road in Benguru village was inundated. In Padakallu village, also in Bhagamandala Hobli, heavy rains led to a wall collapse of a house, but there were no reports of injuries. Senior Revenue Department officials visited the spot to assess damage to compute compensation.

Given the torrential rains, electricity poles have suffered maximum damage, and hence A.S. Ponanna, MLA, Virajpet, urged the managing director of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) to deploy additional linemen in Kodagu to help restore power supply.

Following the MLA’s request, Munigopala Raju, MD of CESC, has directed the deployment of 74 additional staff from various districts coming under the corporation to Kodagu. They will be deployed until June 30 to assist the local staff in restoring the power supply. As of date, 621 electricity poles in Kodagu have been damaged due to rain accompanied by gale during the last few days and need to be replaced.

Meanwhile, the district received a cumulative rainfall of 76.82 mm during the 24 hours until 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Bhagamandala received 112 mm of rainfall while Shanthalli in Somwarpet taluk received 150 mm of rainfall during the same period. Other places with heavy rainfall include Srimangala (113 mm), Balale (62.02 mm), Ammathi (80 mm), Napoklu (102 mm), and Ponnampet (85 mm).