Ground caves in, scares villagers

Kadapa: About 300 residents of Nayanoripalle in Chintakommadinne mandal on the outskirts of Kadapa where a strange phenomenon of deep cavity forming in the ground on Friday have been evacuated after the Revenue and the Police officials visited the village on Saturday. Apprehending threat to people’s lives officials took the action. Police were deployed in the deserted Nayanoripalle fearing thefts.

• Officials evacuate 300 villagers of Nayanoripalle
• District Collector K V Ramana visits village
• Reports say phenomenon occurred after rain water entered limestone layers

The officials arranged three relief centres for the villagers in Kadapa and nearby Indira Nagar. Some persons who were scared went to stay with their relatives. District Collector K V Ramana visited the village. The Revenue officials in his presence got a survey done by the Groundwater and Mining department staff. After studying the survey reports the collector stated that the phenomenon had occurred after the rain water entered the limestone layers in the soil. As the layers moved the ground caved in.

He said a decision would be taken whether to allow the residents to stay in Nayanoripalle or shift them elsewhere. People got scared ground caved in at Buggalapalle village on Wednesday near Bugga Malleswara Swamy temple resulting in a 15ft deep and 20ft wide cavity in the ground. A nearby water tank fell in the hole. This shocked the residents who expressed anxiety.

However, they heaved a sigh of relief as the phenomenon was repeated on Thursday near the Buggavanka dam with soil giving in at 12 spots. People living close-by spent anxious moments, as they were unaware of the cause. Some residents attributed it to the recent heavy rain and inflows into the dam. The officials posted police at the spot to prevent the curious from visiting.