CHIKMAGALUR, JULY 23,

Rain continued to lash
Chikmagalur district on
Wednesday. The heavy rain threw
normal life out of gear in
Balehonnur, Mudigere and other
parts of Chikmagalur. River Bhadra
and its tributaries are in spate.
The road connecting Balehonnur
and Koppa through Melpal was
blocked at Jogi Saralu as bamboo
trees fell on the road. Basarikatte -
Jayapura road too was blocked for
over two hours as a tree fell on the
road at Theerthagundi on
Wednesday afternoon.
A house belonging to Anand
Poojary at Kundur in Herur gram
panchayat limits in Koppa taluk
was damaged as a huge tree fell
over it. Wall and roof of the
Government Primary School
building at Angadi in Mudigere
taluk collapsed due to rain, posing
threat to the lives of students.
Koppa taluk tahsildar had declared
holiday for schools and colleges
on Wednesday due to heavy
downpour in the taluk since
Tuesday night. The rural areas are
the worst hit as there has been
disruption in power supply.
Bilalukoppa and Guddethota gram
panchayats do not have electricity
supply for the last nine days. Gram
panchayat offices that function
with the help of internet have
stopped functioning.
Ashram School for tribal children
at Menasinahadya has been
deprived of electricity since 100
days and children staying in the
hostel are living in darkness.
Despite complaining, the Mescom
has failed to restore power supply.
Lack of kerosene availability to the
school is also posing a problem.
Upset over Mescom for not
responding to complaints,
Kavanahalla villagers caught hold
of a lineman and forcefully took
him to their village.
Increase in water level
With the rain resuming its pace,
the water level in rivers including
Hemavathi, Thunga, Bhadra,
Japavathi, Chikkala and Oorubage,
has increased.
Agriculturists who were ready for
farming on Tuesday, have stopped
the activities on the field.
The heavy rain that has been
lashing Kottigehara, Guthi,
Bhairapura, Hoskere, Devarunda,
Oorubage and Sathiganahalli
region since 20 days, has damaged
robasta coffee.
Paddy saplings that were placed
near the paddy fields for
transplanting process too have
submerged in water. Farmers in
Uggehalli are worried over their
paddy field facing the risk of
submerging in Hemavathi river.