The Hindu : Karnataka News : 3,000 evacuated in Udupi district

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

3,000 evacuated in Udupi district

By Our Staff Correspondent

MALPE, DEC. 30. The Deputy Commissioner of Udupi district, T. Sham Bhatt, said today that over 3,000 people were evacuated in the district after two messages of red alert were received about possible tsunami.

Mr. Bhatt told presspersons here that the first message was received from the Union Home Ministry and the second from a group of experts. The second message, received at 3.30 p.m., warned of an earthquake in the Australian region, which can trigger tsunami.

While 3,000 people were shifted from Mattu Padukere-Kaup belt, hundreds were shifted from Kodibengre and Hungarcutta, south of Udupi, and from six of the 17 danger spots in Kundapur taluk.

People in Mattu Padukere area have been shifted to Rajangana in Sri Krishna Temple and the Town Hall in Udupi. Many have been accommodated in schools, halls and bhajan mandirs.

More than 50 vehicles, including 15 buses, were deployed to shift people from Mattu Padukere.

Entry to beaches in the district has been restricted and fishing banned till Friday. The "Kadalotsava" at Malpe has been called off, Mr. Bhatt said.

Island dwellers evacuated

Our Mangalore Staff Correspondent reports:

The district administration in Dakshina Kannada has asked the people of Bengre Island to move out. Rumours fanned fear psychosis that has gripped the people; some families in low-lying areas have shifted to safe places.

Although official alert has not been issued, the district administration and the Mangalore City Corporation decided to take preventive measures.

The corporation council met at 3 p.m. and adjourned after condoling the deaths in tsunami.

The Mayor and the Health Committee Chairman, Kamalaksha Kundar, have appealed to ambulance operators and hospitals to be on alert.

A number of ambulances and private vehicles have been kept ready to meet any eventuality.

Mr. Kulur and Mr. Kamalaksha met the Bishop of Mangalore, Aloysius Paul D'Souza, and urged him to keep schools under his control open in order to shelter people evacuated from areas prone to floods. Some families have moved to places at a higher altitude.

The Karkeras of Bengre, who have been living in their area for 30 years, were moving out when The Hindu met them. Mr. Ramesh Karkera said: "I have not seen such a condition in my life."

The Deputy Commissioner, Arvind Shrivastava, said steps have been taken to keep the people of coastal areas of Mangalore, Ullal, Suratkal and Mulky informed about the situation. Police jeeps fitted with the public address system have been deployed to announce steps to be taken in case of high tides. An evacuation plan has been worked out with the help of the crisis management team of Mangalore.

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