5 villages near Jodupala in darkness

Team Udayavani, Aug 26, 2018, 1:02 PM IST

• Difficult to estimate the incurred damage
• Restoration work on a war footing

Sullia: Five villages of Kodagu which lie close to Dakshina Kannada (D.K.) district border have been in darkness since a week and it seems like that lights will not be restored for the near foreseeable future.  

Most of the families here are staying at the gruel centres. 95% of the houses in Jodupala remain uninhabited and a similar situation persists in the other four villages as well. A handful of houses which have been inhabited remain in darkness, also plagued by lack of drinking water. The dimly let oil lamps are the solution to fight the lonely, cold, dark night.

The dark story of five villages

Monnangeri, Madenadu, Katakeri, Bettatturu and Kaluru are the five villages on the border of Kodagu, almost touching the borders of D.K. and Kerala. 800-1,000 houses here hade electricity connections. 75% of the people here use electricity for cultivation and more than 500 families her depend on tap water for their survival.

Difficult to estimate the incurred damage

It has not been possible for Mangaluru electricity supply company (Mescom) to put an estimate on the damage incurred by the villages. Road connection has been cut off completely. Hence it is not possible to respond here immediately. The reconnection of electricity may take a few months. Along with the restoration of roads and houses, the reconnection of electricity supply is also a major question here.

Electricity supply poles destroyed

The electricity supply poles, cables, transformers and electrical equipment have been completely spoilt. From the overview, it seems that the five villages have incurred damages costing in crores. GP’s, government offices and schools will have to be freshly reconnected with electricity supply. Instead of installing the electricity route along the already collapsed ground, it needs to be done in some other route, says Rohi, a resident near Jodupala.

New problem

Even if the villages return back to normal, the affected people will not be able to return back to their homes due to the lack of basic infrastructure. Most people living in the gruel centres at Sullia and Madikeri have no clue on the condition of their villages. The reality will be realized only after one steps back into their village.

Since there is no alternate facility for families depending on tap water, and for the drinking water other than the dirty water in the well, it is impossible to live one’s life here. If there is an electricity connection, water and light during the night are possible. If not a new problem may come into existence, says Laxmana from Monnangeri.

Restoration work on a war footing

According to the information from Mescom, repair work has been done from Madikeri Katakeri- Bhagamandala junction and half of the houses in Katakeri have been connected to electricity supply by Friday. The houses in Devarakolli, which is touching D.K. district, have been connected to electricity supply through Sampaje in Sullia. There is no way to provide even temporary relief to Bettatturu, 2st and 2^nd Monnangeri, Madenadu, Jodupala and Kaluru villages. Lights will be seen here only after road connectivity has been restored.

Not received estimate

“The department is working on war footing to restore electricity supply to the villages affected by the natural disaster. Due to the present situation there, it has not been possible to estimate the cost of the incurred damages,” informed Hemanth, Mescom AE, Kodagu-Sampaje.