CM announces Rs 100 cr for rain relief

Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa today announced Rs 100 crore towards carrying out relief and rescue operations in the rain battered regions of the state, taking the total availability of funds with the deputy commissioners of districts to Rs 300 crore.

Briefing reporters after a high-level emergency meeting convened to take stock of the situation, he described the situation in 11 districts as “grim and serious”.

Ministers S Suresh Kumar, Sobha Karandlaje and R Ashok, chief secretary S V Ranganath, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh, additional DGP (law and ordrer) A R Infant were among those present along with officials of rural development and revune department at the meeting at Vidha Soudha, the state secretariat.

Nearly 26,000 houses had collapsed following torrential rains that hit various parts of the state. Four helicopters, including two in Bellary and two in Raichur had been pressed into service for relief and resuce operations. Another six helicopters would shortly be deployed in aid of those facing the rain fury. Thirty two boats from MEG had also been pressed into services in regions battered by heavy rains, he said.

Following innundation of various regions in Mantralaya, on the borders of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka government had sought the help of the Andhra Pradesh government to carry out relief and rescue operations.

The situation in north Karnataka which had witnessed unprecedent rains was serious he said. The chief secretary was in touch with the central defence secretary and had faxed them a review of the situation in the state. The chief minister announced that he would personally visit the rain-affected Haveri district today. An aerial survey of Bellary, Koppal, Raichur and Gadag would be carried out on October 4, he said.

Torrential rains continued to wreak havoc in north Karnataka with 35 more deaths being reported from the region since last night, pushing up the rain-related toll in the state to 86. Eight people were killed in Raichur, six in Bagalkote, five in Bellary, four each in Bijapur, Gulbarga and Gadag and two each in Koppal and Bidar.

In the mean time, in wake of the unprecedented flood situation in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, minister of state for railways K H Muniyappa has sought immediate intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in tackling the situation. He has also sought the help of the home ministry and defence ministry in tackling the flood situation in border areas of the two states.

Muniyappa has requested in his letter to the Prime Minister for urgent rescue operations at Mantralya Matt, located on the AP-Karnataka border, where many devotees were stranded due to the flooding and some had lost their lives.