Massive Landslide in Uttara Kannada: Rescue Efforts and Heavy Rain Warnings
A massive landslide occurred on July 18 in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, claiming the lives of 10 people and leaving three others missing. The landslide took place on National Highway 66 near Shirur village in Ankola taluk.
Rescue Operations
Rescue operations are ongoing with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Navy, Coastguard, fire service, and local police. Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner Lakshmi Priya confirmed that seven bodies have been recovered so far. She stated, “We have received 10 complaints regarding missing people, out of which seven bodies have been recovered, three people are still missing.”
Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Narayan M mentioned that continuous landslides and river flows are complicating the rescue efforts. He said, “Three people are still missing. The problem is that rivers flow from there and landslides are continuously happening. We are cleaning the mud continuously.”
Visits and Shelter
Union Minister and JD (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy visited Shirur village in Ankola, which was severely affected by the landslide. Several residents of the Ankola region have taken shelter at care centers in Shirur village.
Weather Warnings
The Regional Met Centre of Bengaluru has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Uttara Kannada district for July 20 and an orange alert for July 21. Similar alerts have been issued for Shimoga, Udupi, and Chikmagalur. According to the India Meteorological Department, heavy to very heavy rain is expected over Coastal Karnataka and South Interior Karnataka on July 20, and isolated heavy rain is likely over North Interior Karnataka from July 18 to 22.
Doubts Revealed
Landslide -: A landslide is when a large amount of earth, rocks, and debris suddenly slide down a slope, often caused by heavy rain or earthquakes.
Uttara Kannada -: Uttara Kannada is a district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is known for its beautiful forests and coastline.
NDRF -: NDRF stands for National Disaster Response Force. They are a special team in India that helps during natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.
Navy -: The Navy is a part of the military that operates at sea. They help in rescue operations during disasters, especially in coastal areas.
Deputy Commissioner -: A Deputy Commissioner is a senior government official in charge of a district. They help manage and coordinate efforts during emergencies.
Lakshmi Priya -: Lakshmi Priya is the name of the Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada. She is helping with the rescue efforts.
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a member of the central government in India. They are responsible for different departments and can visit areas affected by disasters.
HD Kumaraswamy -: HD Kumaraswamy is a politician in India. He has served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka and is currently a Union Minister.
Regional Met Centre -: The Regional Met Centre is a weather forecasting office. They give warnings about weather conditions like heavy rain.
Red and Orange Alerts -: Red and Orange Alerts are warnings about severe weather. Red means very dangerous weather is expected, and orange means it could be dangerous.
