Landslide cuts off Suligere village, residents stranded without power or fuel for 3 weeks

WITH the landslide near Kodasalli in Uttara Kannada remaining unattended for the past 10 days, 35 families in the village of Suligeri are cut off from the world, deprived of transport, communication, and basic amenities like electricity, petrol and kerosene. There is a fear that the villagers could soon run out of rations.

- SUBHASH CHANDRA N S @Suligeri (Uttara Kannada)

The landslide occurred on July 2, leaving the village of 35 families marooned. Suligeri sank into darkness three weeks ago when heavy rainfall brought down three electricity poles, putting a stop to all activities after 5 pm. The landslide dealt a bigger blow as it brought down three more power poles.

The day starts very early for the villagers of Suligeri; though this is nothing new in rural India, they are up and about as they are compelled to go to bed early. "There has been no power since the past 21 days, and we spend our evenings in darkness. There is no kerosene to light lamps. We have dinner in the evenings and sleep early, and wait for the first light of dawn. Students are deprived of studies, and whatever they study in school is all," said Nagaraj Naik, a resident.