Four bodies have been recovered in Karnataka's Kodagu district after fresh landslides in the district. At around 12.45 pm on Friday, the rescue team that was deployed at Korangala near Bhagamandala in Kodagu found the bodies. According to Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha, five people were feared trapped in the landslide and four bodies have been recovered so far. The NDRF and Fire and Emergency Services teams are still looking for the fifth person.
According to Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy, 14 landslides have occurred in Kodagu on Friday in Madikeri and Viraj Pet taluks, shutting off road connectivity. DC Annies Joy said that the roads to Gonikoppa and roads connecting Bagamandala-Madikeri, Bagamandala-Talacauvery, Bagamandala-Ayyangeri, Madikeri-Moorunadu, Gonikpaa-Palibetta, Gonkoppa-Ponnampet and Virajpet-Madikeri were shut due to landslides.
"The Betri bridge that is located between Virajpet and Madikeri is flooded. The bridge is 50-ft high and the water level in river Cauvery has risen so much that the bridge is under water. This is the first time the Betri bridge has been submerged due to floods. Rains have also flooded Bangandeshwara Temple in Bagamandala," DC Annies said.
The road between Kushalnagar and Madikeri was also shut as the Tavarakere Lake located between the two areas flooded the road and cut off connectivity.
In Bagamandala and Kushalnagar, the villages located on the banks of River Cauvery have been completely submerged. DC Annies said that the flood washed away around 5,000 homes in Kondangeri, Murnad, Guyya, Koodugadde, Bettadakadu, Karadigodu, Baradi, Ayyangeri and other smaller villages along the banks of the Cauvery.
"Over 10,000 houses were completely submerged. Many people had already left their homes but around 5,000 people were still there. They were rescued by the NDRF, SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services and the locals on Friday," she added.
Eight deaths have been reported in Belagavi district since Sunday and two other deaths in Uttara Kannada district. So far, 1,24,291 people have been evacuated.
On Thursday, the Dakshina Kannada district administration declared a holiday on Friday for schools and colleges in the district. Holidays have also been declared in Udupi, Shivamogga and Kodagu districts and Malnad region of Karnataka due to intense flooding. More than 90,000 people have been shifted to the 467 relief camps opened in eight districts.