DEVASTATED: A house in Ghousia Nagar in Mysore that was damaged in rain. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: The problems of residents of rain-affected areas in Mysore continue as the district administration has failed to provide relief. In the worst-affected areas in Narasimha Raja constituency, people continue to cook in the open, in unhygienic conditions.

On Thursday morning, residents of Shanthi Nagar gathered at the residence of corporator Venu Gopal protesting against "lack of response" from elected representatives and officials. They said their representatives have only expressed sympathy for their plight and have not take steps to provide relief. They alleged that Mr. Venugopal has not visited the affected areas, and tension prevailed for some time. The situation returned to normality when Mayor Bharathi arrived and promised relief.

She The Hindu officials have not acted on her directive to award compensation of up to Rs. 5,000 and set up centres to provide food. "I am at a loss to understand why they are not showing concern. They are estimating losses when people have lost their homes. What people need is food and temporary shelter to escape from rain fury. The poor are the worst affected," she said.

Over 50 houses in the city collapsed in heavy rainfall on Wednesday night. As many as 700 houses have collapsed in the past few days and more than 3,000 are damaged.

Officials said Mysore received 51.4 mm of rainfall on Wednesday night. This took the total rainfall this month to 442 mm, which is a record. The previous highest rainfall in October was 331.6 mm in 1993.

According to sources in the Mysore City Corporation (MCC), assessment of the damage by officials is going on. Compensation to those affected will be released only after a report is submitted.

Deputy Commissioner S. Selvakumar told The Hindu that no loss of life was reported in the district on Thursday.

He said a number of houses have collapsed because of increasing dampness in walls, caused by incessant rainfall. "Emergency measures are being initiated and officials have been directed to open `ganji kendras' to provide food to the affected people. Tahsildars have been authorised to provide compensation," Mr. Selvakumar said

The district administration has estimated crop losses and damage to property at about Rs. 60 crores.

A helping hand

People who have lost their houses have found shelter thanks to good Samaritans in their neighbourhood.

The lack of assistance from the Government has moved people to extend a helping hand to those affected.

Residents of Gandhi Nagar, who lost their houses, are being accommodated in shops and houses in the area.

The Masjid-E-Usmani at Gandhi Nagar has become a temporary shelter for three families, including that of Shobamma. She shifted to the mosque with her six family members after her house collapsed this morning. According to sources in MCC, the Mohammadia Mosque in Shanthinagar has given shelter to a few families.

Rain disrupts life

Bangalore Staff Reporter writes:

In Bangalore, life was disrupted and relief work was hampered as the skies opened up again on Thursday. Non-availability of drinking water, delay in relief operations, power shutdown, disruption in telephone services and flooded roads made life miserable for Bangaloreans.

A false alarm that a thunderstorm would rock the city in the evening caused panic, and many people left their places of work early. Cellphone users received SMS "alerts" about the "thunderstorm".

The Meteorological Department clarified that it did not issue an alert.

Rs. 500 crores sought

Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh on Thursday spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought the release of Rs. 500 crores to the State to deal with the havoc caused by heavy rain in Bangalore and other districts.

The Chief Minister told presspersons that Dr. Manmohan Singh assured him that he will discuss the State's request with the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and take a decision.

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