The lost village Tantipala: Life here is walk on a slackline

Madikeri: Amidst the lush greenery lies a village named Tantipala. For years, the people here had a demand for a bridge to be built across the river. A hanging bridge was built, due to which the name of the village came to be known as “Tantipala” (Bridge of Strings).

Heavy downpour, landslides, closure of roads due to calamities are not a new phenomenon for the villagers. For years together, nature has nurtured the land and its people. But the recent floods have devastated the land, leaving the traces of a horrifying catastrophe. The agricultural land was submerged about 10 feet deep in mud. A land where Kodava and Gowda communities formed most of the population resided has almost vanished. The only things that are seen here are the wooden logs and demolished houses. An eerie silence looms over the whole village.

On one side is the Hemmethalu village submerged in the river and on the other side is the Tantipalu village which is engulfed in wooden logs due to landslides. The mountains have made their way down to the village bringing with them humongous amounts of timber. The Tantipalu village now looks like a timber warehouse.

The streams of the Tantipalu village are completely covered with murk, which has completely diverged the flow of water. The water from the mountain range is heavily flowing down to the village, make it impossible for road connectivity. This change in geography has created another valley.

Coffee, arecanut, banana plantations have flushed away along with cars and houses. A family residing in Thambukuthira village was in the process of constructing a new house, which was almost completed. Due to the floods, there are no traces of this house, the loss estimated at Rs 15 Lakh.

A family in Makkandur had sold 2 acres of land and in that money had constructed a 2-storey house. Due to the heavy downpour and landslides, the house is considerably damaged making it unsuitable for occupancy. According to the villagers, a huge mountain range behind this house is almost ready for another landslide as it is already partially affected. The landslide is predicted to happen in a couple of months. If it happens so, the land along with the house will be leveled permanently.

Dozens have lost their houses and land, living with no option but reside in the relief camps or houses of relatives. They are unable to get back to their village due to the disruption of road connectivity, housing, and basic amenities. Their situation has become like the walk on a slackline.