Bengaluru: Calamities bring out the worst of Mother Nature. At the same time, calamities also bring out the best in men.

On August 8, all the 198 corporators of wards in Bengaluru pledged to donate their salaries of one month for rehabilitation works in the rain-affected regions of north Karnataka.

Now, taking a leaf out their book, former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has decided to emulate the good act of the corporators. He tweeted that all JD(S) MLAs would forego their one month’s salaries in order to contribute to the relief activities that would take place in north Karnataka. He also added it is imperative they stand with the affected people.

Chief minister BS Yediyurappa who was asked to rush to the region to oversee flood relief activities by none other than Union home minister and BJP national president Amit Shah himself had sought contributions from large-hearted people towards improving the lives of the flood-affected victims.

Others who contributed to the cause included Sudha Murthy, Infosys Foundation chairperson, who donated Rs 10 crore.

Rains have wreaked havoc in the region, destroying 237 villages in 32 taluks. Till now, nearly 30,000 people were rescued from low-lying villages in 11 districts of the state.

Helicopters too were pressed into service to extricate the affected from the monstrous waters. NDRF personnel are working overtime to make sure all  the affected are brought back to shores of safety.

Yediyurappa has been camping at the affected region, but is finding it next to impossible as the entire burden has fallen on his shoulders, in the absence of a Cabinet.

It has been a fortnight since he was sworn in, but he is yet to form his Cabinet and allot portfolios. It is all due to the fact that dissension would rear its ugly head when those who do not make the cut begin to mutiny.