A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall claimed three people in Mangaluru three days ago after a portion of a hill collapsed onto a house while the occupants were asleep in Karnataka’s Mangaluru. The tragedy has once again stressed the danger of monsoon rains in the coastal region.
The incident took place at night when most residents in the area were asleep, the officials said. It was after hours of heavy rainfall that a part of the hill behind the house collapsed and mud, rocks and debris fell on the house. So heavy was the impact that a huge portion of the house was buried under the landslide, and the people inside had to stay under the rubble.
Residents rushed to the scene after hearing a loud noise and cries for help. Emergency services, police officers and disaster response teams immediately acted and started a rescue operation. But by the time the rescuers were able to get the debris off of them and reach the victims, three people had died.
The victims were asleep when the hill collapsed without warning, authorities said. The sudden nature of the disaster left little or no time for them to escape. The bodies were later recovered from the rubble and shifted for post-mortem examination.
The incident has shaken the district all the way up to the residents, and residents say rain-related disasters are going on more frequently in the monsoon season. Family members, neighbours, and community members gathered around the accident site, where rescue operations were still going on in the early hours.
Over the past few days, heavy rains have inundated several areas of Dakshina Kannada district with waterlogging, flooding, and trees falling down, and landslides in areas vulnerable to such heavy rainfall and damaging landslides are spreading across Dakshina Kannada district. Meteorological agencies have already issued warnings that coastal Karnataka will continue to receive rainfall in parts of coastal Karnataka, and district administrations are on high alert.
Authorities have started to assess the stability of nearby slopes and hillsides to prevent further incidents. Residents living in landslide-prone areas are urged to be alert and report any evidence that is seen -- soil movement, cracks in the ground, tilting trees, or unusual water seepage, for example.
#WATCH | Mangaluru, Karnataka | Three dead after a compound wall collapsed onto a row of rented houses in Garodi, within the Kankanady police station limits. pic.twitter.com/uTw1luFSld
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District authorities have also instructed local bodies to identify vulnerable areas, take preventive measures and to evacuate residents where possible. Rescue teams are still monitoring the area for any additional risks, especially because the rain is expected to continue for a few more days.
Heavy rainfall is known to saturate the soil and weaken the stability of hills and slopes, experts say. In hilly and coastal places like Dakshina Kannada, such conditions can lead to landslides, especially around residential settlements near the slopes of a hill and the coastline with steep terrain.
The tragedy of three lives has led to calls for better monitoring of landslide-prone areas and better disaster preparedness for the monsoon season. The family will be provided resources and compensation in the wake of the tragedy, authorities said.
With heavy monsoon activity ongoing in Karnataka, residents in the most vulnerable areas of the state are advised to be cautious and follow safety advice from local authorities.
