Man dies, wife injured as mudslide flattens houses in Kerala''s Idukki
Idukki (PTI): A 48-year-old man died and his wife was severely injured after a mudslide, near the National Highway widening work, levelled at least eight houses in this district, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred at Mannamkandam in Adimali on Saturday night.
The deceased has been identified as Biju of Lakshamveedu Unnathi.
According to police, there were around 25 houses in the housing colony, and due to the risk of a mudslide, residents had been shifted to relief camps on Saturday.
Adimali Block Panchayat member Krishnamoorthi told PTI that mud was being removed from the hilly area as part of the widening of NH-85.
"The residential colony was located on the slope of the hill beneath the highway. As there was a possibility of a mudslide, panchayat officials issued a notice, and 25 families were shifted to Adimali on Saturday evening," he said.
However, Biju and his wife Sandhya returned home later that night to prepare food.
"When they were inside their house, mud from the hill collapsed and fell over the houses around 10.30 pm. Biju and Sandhya were trapped inside. Around eight houses were flattened in the slide," he said.
Residents alerted the police and Fire and Rescue Services, who launched a rescue operation.
"The couple was trapped under the debris. After a five-hour-long operation, they were pulled out. However, Biju succumbed to his injuries. Sandhya, who was initially admitted to a hospital in Adimali, was later shifted to a hospital in Aluva," Krishnamoorthi said, adding that Sandhya’s condition is stable now.
Residents alleged that unscientific road widening was responsible for the tragedy.
"The mud is being removed as part of the highway work without any safety precautions. They are clearing the hill slopes without considering the risk of landslides," Sulfi, a resident, said.
Anas, whose house was destroyed, said residents had noticed major cracks in the hillside and had alerted panchayat officials.
"The officials inspected the spot on Saturday morning and issued a notice asking us to evacuate due to the risk of a landslide. We were shifted to the Adimali government school camp, but the NH work continued," he said.
The body of the deceased was handed over to relatives by afternoon, police said.
Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said in a statement that it had filed a detailed report with the authorities on the possibility of a landslide in the area.
As per the NHAI statement, following a communication from the Idukki District Disaster Management Unit on October 22, NHAI promptly visited the site and submitted a detailed report confirming the likelihood of a landslide.
"The report also recommended the immediate evacuation of families residing in the prone area. Acting on this advisory, the district administration issued formal notices to all resident families, warning them of the danger and instructing them to evacuate," the statement said.
According to NHAI, swift cooperation from the local administration ensured that all at-risk families were safely relocated to a temporary relief camp at the Adimali Government School.
"Traffic movement in the area had also been suspended from 10 am on Saturday, as a precautionary measure," NHAI said.
NHAI also claimed that at the time of the mudslide, no construction work was in progress.
Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine, Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose, District Collector Dineshan Cheruvat, District Police Chief K M Sabu Mathew, and District Planning Committee Vice Chairman C V Varghese visited the spot.
An emergency meeting was convened at the Adimali Taluk Hospital to assess the situation and plan rehabilitation. The meeting decided to relocate 44 families from the affected area.
Minister Augustine said that eight houses were destroyed in the disaster.
Families from the affected area will be relocated to government quarters in Kathippara and the Life Mission Housing Complex in Machiplavu.
He added that efforts are underway to remove the debris and soil deposited in the affected areas.
"A special team comprising officials from the Local Self-Government Department, Geology Department, Disaster Management Authority, and the Public Works Department will be formed immediately to conduct a scientific assessment of the landslide-hit region. Further construction activities and follow-up measures will be based on the team’s report," the minister said.
The minister also said that NHAI has been directed to provide immediate assistance to families that suffered losses.
Health Minister Veena George announced that Theophilos Nursing College in Kangazha, Kottayam, has decided to bear the educational expenses of Biju's daughter. Biju’s daughter is a second-year nursing student at the college.
District Collector Dineshan Cheruvath has ordered a temporary halt to all National Highway construction works in the district in the wake of the landslide at Adimali.
The Collector said that a special team will inspect the affected sites and submit a report.
He directed the team to submit a preliminary report within two days and a detailed report within four days.
Until the study report is submitted, all construction activities along NH 85 and other landslide-prone areas in the district will remain suspended, the order said.
However, the Collector permitted the removal of soil that had fallen onto roads and adjacent areas.
Considering that a relief camp is functioning at the Adimali Government School, the Collector also declared a holiday for the Lower and Upper Primary sections of the institution.
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Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send the message that “Muslims are being targeted.”
“I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, “People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline.”
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers, and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun.
They were also said to have not actively participated in the campaign.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the CM.
Rejecting allegations of factionalism within the party, Shivakumar said, “We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?”
“All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress,” he added, saying there are no factions within the party and that such claims are media-driven.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
“We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said he discussed with Shivakumar the issue of withdrawing Jabbar’s suspension. He said he will also visit New Delhi next week to meet the high command and discuss state developments.
“Jabbar’s suspension was discussed (with Shivakumar). It should be withdrawn. Let’s issue him a notice and allow him to reply. Then let’s send the report to the high command and seek their approval. High command approval is necessary because the instructions came from there. It may take some time,” he said.
Stating that he met the KPCC chief for “damage control,” the minister said, “We have tried to convince him. Sometimes certain decisions happen that need rectification.”
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