MADIKERI: Unrelenting rain appears to have exposed problems in the under-construction retaining wall of the Kodagu deputy commissioner's office in Madikeri. The wall has developed a bulge and an accompanying bend, and given that the building extends into the road to Mangaluru, gridlock has become disturbingly commonplace on the road bound for the coastal city.
Eager to prevent chaos on the road, traffic police have diverted vehicular movement on the throughfare. Entry to Mangaluru Road through Madikeri has been barred to ensure that commuters are not imperilled by the retaining wall.
Public works department executive engineer Nagaraj said that the wall was being reconstructed using a technique called the reinforcement earthen panel. "The construction cost an estimated Rs 7 crore. However, we had to suspend work on the wall. Owing to heavy rain, the wall has developed a bulge. We have secured that portion of the wall by using gunny bags filled with sand. While five of these panels are in a slightly dangerous position, the rest of the wall is intact," he said.
Chief engineer of the public works department Govindraj and superintending engineer Ravikumar are scheduled to inspect the wall on Monday.
Kodagu deputy commissioner Sateesha BC pointed out that there was no immediate threat to the complex. "Work will continue on the building," said Sateesha, adding that land had slipped 12-foot below the surface of a house belonging to Chimmanda Bopaiah at Katakeri village near Madikeri.
Meanwhile, 70-year-old Vasanthamma, who had sustained injuries when her house in Sulugalale near Shanivarsanthe collapsed on July 5, succumbed to her wounds on Saturday.
