Rain: 24 schools, 74 houses damaged in Mandya district

As many as 24 school buildings in K.R. Pet taluk and nearly 74 houses across the district were damaged over the past 23 days due to continuous rainfall in Mandya district, said Deputy Commissioner Kumar.

With rains lashing the district over the past two days and the Meteorological Department forecasting more showers over the next three to four days, the Deputy Commissioner on Thursday instructed officials to take all necessary precautionary and disaster management measures.

Presiding over a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority at his office, Dr. Kumar said that owing to heavy rains in Kodagu, 4,600 cusecs of water has been released from the Hemavathi reservoir into the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam.

He told officials to take necessary disaster-prevention measures along the Cauvery river basin.

Recalling the damage caused by heavy rains in the district earlier, Dr. Kumar said that several areas, including the KHB Colony, were flooded, and the CDS canal was washed away. The district in-charge Minister and local MLA had inspected the rain-affected areas.

At the meeting, officials were directed to upload details of affected victims to the relief software and ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out of the compensation list. Tahsildars have been asked to carefully verify the lists of affected families and expedite relief distribution.

Dr. Kumar warned officials that they would be held responsible if water entered KHB Colony again, as rains are expected to continue for a few more days.

The DC instructed the local tahsildar at the meeting to personally visit and inspect all the schools that have suffered damage in K.R. Pet taluk.

With regard to flooding at the KSRTC bus stand in Nagamangala, Dr. Kumar said that tendering for repair works had already been completed, with 25% of the work finished. The remaining work must be completed within a month, he said. Also, the retaining wall work at Ennehole Koppalu has been completed up to 50%, and officials have been directed to inspect and complete the remaining work at the earliest.

Dr. Kumar said that the officials have been asked to prioritise house-damage cases and take immediate action. “Funds have already been transferred to tahsildars’ accounts,” he said, stressing the need for urgent relief measures.

Deadline extended

Meanwhile, the last date for completing the crop survey in the district, which was earlier October 24, has been extended to October 26 due to heavy rains. The DC instructed officials that the survey must be completed by the new deadline without fail.

Pointing out that Malavalli and Srirangapatna taluks were lagging behind in the crop survey, he warned that disciplinary action would be taken against officials who failed to meet the deadline.

NDRF mock drill

An NDRF team comprising 25 members will conduct a mock drill on chemical disaster management at Thorekadanahalli in the district on October 28, Dr. Kumar said.