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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2nd WT20I: Shafali, spin trio do star turns in India''s seven-wicket win
Visakhapatnam (PTI): Shafali Verma hit a blistering unbeaten 69 as India made short work of a paltry target to outclass Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Women’s T20 International here on Tuesday.
India now lead the five-match series 2-0 after another one-sided victory, having restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 128 for 9 through a collective display of disciplined bowling from the spin trio of seasoned Sneh Rana, ably complemented by young spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani.
During the chase, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (14) fell cheaply but Shafali, enjoying new found confidence after a stellar show in the World Cup final, sent the bowlers on a leather-hunt during her 34-ball knock, winning it for her team in just 11.5 overs.
The hosts have now completed back-to-back successful chases within 15 overs which speaks volumes about the unit's sky-high confidence.
Shafali's innings had 11 punchy boundaries apart from a maximum.
The floodgates opened when left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera bowled a few flighted deliveries and Shafali would step out everytime to hit her over extra cover. Her footwork against slow bowlers was immaculate whether stepping out to loft the ball or rocking back to punch or pull.
Seeing her confidence, the newly appointed Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15 balls) also attacked as the duo added 58 runs in just 4.3 overs.
By the time Rodrigues was out trying to hit one six too many, the match as a contest was over. Shafali completed her half-century off just 27 balls and completed the formalities in a jiffy.
Earlier, off-spinner Rana, who got a look-in after Deepti Sharma was ruled out due to fever, showed her utility keeping the Lankan batters under tight leash with figures of 1 for 11 in 4 overs, including a maiden which certainly is a rarity in T20 cricket.
Charani, who made an impression during India's ODI World Cup triumph, took 2 for 23 in her quota of overs, while Vaishnavi after an impressive debut in the opening encounter, finished with 2 for 32, not letting the Islanders get easy runs in her second spell.
The last six wickets fell for just 24 runs, but what stood out during India’s bowling effort was their superb ground fielding. After a patchy show in the previous game, the improved sharpness in the field resulted in three run-outs.
Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu (31 off 24 balls) looked in good nick as she deposited length deliveries from seamers Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy over the ropes but it was Rana, who kept her quiet by repeatedly pitching on good length.
Unable to manoeuvre the strike and with the big hits suddenly drying up, Athapaththu chanced her arm at another delivery in which Rana had shortened the length slightly.
Not having transferred the weight into the lofted shot, Athapaththu's hoick was pouched cleanly by Amanjot Kaur at long-off.
This was after Athapaththu's opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne (1) had offered a simple return catch to Gaud.
Hasini Perera (22 off 28 balls) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33 off 32 balls) did stitch a stand of 44 but they could never set the tempo against the Indian spin troika.
Once Hasini offered a tame return catch off a Charani full-toss, Sri Lankans never recovered and lost wickets in a heap towards the end.
