Help Us In Rehabilitating The Landslide Affected Areas in Coorg!!

Landslides in North Kodagu (Coorg)

Kodagu, popularly known as Coorg, is the go-to weekend tourist destination on the Western Ghats of Karnataka. Kodagu is the source of the River Kaveri and contributes half the water in the river. Kodagu experienced an early and extended monsoon season this year after a few years of near drought conditions. The district has also witnessed rampant development and land use changes in some areas fuelled by tourism and resort construction. When it began to rain incessantly on the 14th of August 2018, it was a perfect storm. The southern part of Kodagu experienced floods while the Northern mountainous region surrounding Madikeri saw unprecedented landslides on August 16th and 17th, unheard of in living memory. Entire hillsides measuring acres of land dissolved swallowing forests, coffee and cardamom plantations, homes, roads and paddy fields. These landscapes cannot be recognised any more. In urban areas, homes located on steep hillsides collapsed like dominos, making several poor working families homeless in the matter of minutes. Even those whose houses were not destroyed were evacuated due to deteriorating conditions. The situation is still developing and more and more people are turning up in shelters or knocking on the doors of friends and relatives, having lost everything they own and having escaped near death with only the clothes they were wearing.

This appeal is for the landslide affected families of North Kodagu (Madikeri and Somwarpet Taluks).

The exact number of persons affected is not known as they have been scattered across centres and also hosted by their extended families and friends. It is estimated that over 5,000 persons have been affected. The following villages were affected by the landslides and some have been completely destroyed and or abandoned due to continued danger of landslides.

1. Jodupala

2. Sampaje

3. Madenadu

4. Bettathur

5. Katakeri

6. Mekeri

7. First Monnangeri

8. Second Monnangeri

9. Galibeedu

10. Vanachalu

11. Hebbetageri

12. Kalakeri Nidugane

13. Karavale Badaga

14. Karnangeri

15. Niduvattu

16. Kaloor

17. Muttlu

18. Hammiyala

19. Megathalu

20. Hemmethalu

21. Kandanakolli

22. Koppathur

23. Makkandur

24. Thanthipala

25. Mukkodlu

26. Kumbaragadige

27. Shirangalli

28. Shanthalli

29. Takeri

30. Kumboor

31. Madapura

32. Hattihole

33. Kopatti

34. Chettimani

35. Maggula

The following areas of Madikeri Town were affected:

1. Indiranagara

2. Chamundeshwarinagara

3. Jyothinagara

4. Vinayaka Badavane

5. Mangaladevi Nagara

6. T John Layout

7. Bhagavati Nagara

8. Private Bus Stand Area

9. Azad Nagara

10. Rajarajeshwarinagara

The people of Kodagu have been overwhelmed by the support of volunteers and donors from all over the country and this has enabled roll-out of immediate relief for the disaster affected. However, we are now bracing for the uphill rehabilitation task ahead. If the displaced families have to move out of shelters to interim housing, their start-up needs are as follows

1. Basic kitchen essentials - a pressure cooker, steel vessels, serving spoons, plates, tumblers, gas stove-cook top - 500 numbers

2. Solar lamps with mobile charging units - as grid electricity may not be restored in many villages for a long time - 250 numbers

3. Strong tarps to protect damaged roofs or cliff faces while houses are being repaired - preferably Silpaulin sheets (as they can weather both sunlight and strong winds for several years). The rainy season in Madikeri Taluq extends till October every year. Tarps are required in the following sizes

1. 20x30 feet

2. 40 x 40 feet

3. 30 x 40 feet

4. 40 x 60 feet

(200 each)

1. School Kits for students - who had to abandon their books in their destroyed homes. Schools and colleges are closed for the moment but will open by next week. The kit should consist of a rucksack with 8 ruled long note books - 250 numbers

2. Rapid Construction Kits (will send details later - as we are estimating numbers)

The people of Kodagu have been overwhelmed by the support of volunteers and donors from all over the country and this has enabled roll-out of immediate relief for the disaster affected. However, we are now bracing for the uphill rehabilitation task ahead.

Help Us rehabilitate the affected areas by providing us the basic needs and other materials required to arrange our roofs for houses. We also need some educational material to support our children get back to school from coming week.