Brick by brick, rebuilding lives at flood affected Kodagu in Karnataka

Heavy rains, floods, and landslides lashed the country’s largest coffee-growing region of Kodagu in Karnataka. The region has suffered heavy losses in terms of lives, livelihood, and property.

Due to the incessant rains and landslides – power supply was disrupted with 3,800 electric poles, conductors and transformers damaged. Further,123 km of roads and 58 culverts/ bridges were damaged – and all major roads connecting Kodagu were blocked, including those between Kushalnagara and Madikeri, Madikeri and Hassan and those connecting Bhagamandala, Napoklu, and Ayyangeri with other places. It is also said that the rainfall had saturated the soil with water very heavily, leading to bursting of springs from the mud floors of many thatched houses.

Caritas India responded to the humanitarian crisis by extending immediate relief support to 1500 affected families with food, WaSH, and Non-Food Items.

United Way Bengaluru, a not-for-profit organization based at Bengaluru came forward to support the Caritas India rehabilitation phase in Kodagu. They started mobilizing resources for rehabilitation work. They are supporting the reconstruction of 4 Government schools, 16 Anganwadis, 8 houses and 12 livelihood activities in the Somrapet and Madikeri Taluk.

Caritas India has selected ‘Pragathi’ to undertake the activities in Somarvet Taluk and Organization for Development of the People’ (ODP) in Madikeri Taluk to implement the activities.

Refurbishment Work of Schools and Anganwadis has already started with classroom flooring, veranda, painting, toilets, school stage, wall plastering, front gate fixing, roof work, stone slap fixing, etc. The houses will have roof construction and for livelihood, support for tailoring, petty shop, carpentry, and goldsmith will be provided to the beneficiaries.