Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should visit flood-hit Kodagu district of Karnataka like he did in flood-affected Kerala.

The 70-year-old Congress leader took a tour of flood-hit Kodagu region of Karnataka on Thursday, 23 August. He also visited a relief camp and spoke to the affected families.

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“The Prime Minister came to Kerala. It would be nice for him to come here and see the damage,” said Siddaramaiah.

The lawmaker from Badami said that several villages have been damaged due to heavy rains and landslides in Kodagu.

“People have lost property. There is no road connection. The wage labourers have been affected because thousands of acres of agricultural land have been damaged,” he said.

Praising the work of rescuers, Siddaramaiah said that hundreds of people are standing in the aid of victims.

“The relief camps have been opened to victims…The work of all of the rescuer and relief workers is commendable,” he said in a tweet posted in Kannada.

After listening to the petitions of victims at Suntikopa relief camp in Madikeri, Siddaramaiah assured that those who have lost their property will get all assistance from the government.

The former CM said that he has asked state housing minister UT Khader to “plan houses for those who have lost their homes”. Siddaramaiah added that he will also talk to the government, an alliance of Congress and JD(S), about granting of land to those who have been left landless due to the flood.

Read More: Floods recede in Karnataka’s Kodagu, relief work in full swing

“A committee of experts should be formed to ensure that a flood-situation does not happen further,” he said, adding that “provision of compensation to victims and crop damage will also be planned”.

He said that the government will take all necessary steps for reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.

According to initial estimates, the cumulative loss in the district is said to be about Rs 2,000-Rs 3,000 crore due to heavy damage to infrastructure like roads, bridges, power lines, apart from houses and agricultural land.

The district administration has also ordered hotels, resorts, homestays and guesthouses to cancel bookings till 31 August due to the havoc wrought by heavy rains in the hilly region.