Around seven houses situated at the foothills came under the landslide. Hearing the sound of the landslide, some of the villagers ran for safety.
It is reported that all the houses are buried, and there were still around 20 people trapped under the debris.
The magnitude of the landslide has been such that, those caught under the debris are feared dead due to suffocation. Rain and darkness have hampered the rescue operations.
The identity of those buried in the landslide is not yet known. Meanwhile, one body, which was washed away in the slush, has been found. The rescue operations are still on.
IAF helicopters
Meanwhile, helicopters of Indian Air Force are being used for relief works in flood-affected areas. According to a release from IAF, the Training Command situated in Bangalore got into the relief work following requests from the governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
By Friday afternoon, six helicopters of the IAF flew from the station for rescue works. They dropped 750 kg of relief material mainly food packets and rescued 42 people in different places.
The IAF personnel evacuated 12 people caught in water in the low-lying areas of Bellary district.
Round-the-clock flood relief cells has been set up at Air Force Station at Yelahanka in Bangalore and Hakimpet in Andhra Pradesh. The Meteorological Department of IAF has been activated to assist the civil authorities.
Air Cmdr V S Bharti, the Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Yelahanka, is overlooking the flood relief operations, the press release
stated.
Relief funds pour in
Funds has started pouring in for relief works in the flood-affected areas. Many government agencies have come forward to contribute funds to the CM’s relief fund.
Karnataka Milk Federation, during its function held on Friday, handed over a cheque for Rs one crore to Chief Minister Yeddyurappa. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, BWSSB and Excise Department each will be donating Rs 50 lakh towards the relief works.
BJP MLAs and MPs, who met under the leadership of Ananth Kumar on Friday evening, decided to give their one-month’s salary to the CM’s relief fund.
Transport Minister R Ashok said KSRTC buses would ferry pilgrims stuck in Mantralaya to their respective places free of cost. An order to this effect had been issued.
Ananth Kumar appealed to the leaders of the Opposition to co-operate with the State government in handling the relief works instead of making allegations.
Reddy flies to Mantralaya
Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy flew to Mantralaya on Friday night in his helicopter carrying food packets to the people stranded in flood, according to the sources.
Chief Minister to visit
Chief Minister Yeddyurappa will visit flood affected areas in Bellary, Koppal and Raichur districts by road on Saturday.
According to a communique from the CM’s office he reached Bellary by road on Friday night.
He will visit places, including Mantralaya on Saturday. On Sunday, the CM will hold an aerial survey of the affected areas in Gulbarga, Bagalkot and Bijapur districts.