Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 9: Following media reports highlighting the absence of officials who had issued a notice to Ashwini — the survivor of the Manjanady Urumanekodi tragedy — a team led by executive engineer Jayaprakash of the irrigation department, who was earlier reported to be unwell, visited the site on October 9 and conducted a detailed inspection and measurement around the concretized road, soil, and the collapsed house.
The inspection team comprised Ullal taluk panchayat executive officer Gurudath, assistant executive engineer Nitesh from the zilla panchayat irrigation department, and panchayat development officer Ramya. The team visited the site around 2 pm on Thursday. Measurements were taken from the start to the end of the concretized road, from the road to the collapsed house, from the back of the house to the hill, and from the nearby stream to the hill behind the house.
Executive engineer Jayaprakash said, “An objective report will be prepared after analysis. The family had received a house under the Basava Kalyana scheme in 2013 and constructed an RCC house at that time. There is no record of the earlier tiled house. Traces of machinery used for concreting are visible on the hill. This year, rains began early, and landslides have occurred in several places across Dakshina Kannada district. The truth will be known after examining the report.”
On May 30, the house collapse had claimed the lives of Premalatha (60) and her grandchildren Aryan (3) and Aarush (2), who were trapped under the debris. The house owner, Kanthappa Poojary, lost one leg, while his daughter Ashwini lost both legs and has been battling for her life. The family had alleged that, apart from heavy rain, the road construction and concreting work by cutting into the hill behind their house also contributed to the tragedy.
The family had complained that no police case was registered and that the Manjanady gram panchayat had submitted a false report describing the road as a ‘man-made path’ and the collapsed building as an ‘old house’ to mislead the government. They had petitioned the state chief secretary and the human rights commission seeking justice.
Following this, the irrigation department was directed to conduct a spot inspection and submit a report to the police within a stipulated time. The department had issued a WhatsApp notice to Ashwini on October 7 to be present during the inspection. When officials failed to appear on October 8, family members and locals expressed outrage, terming it inhumane to summon Ashwini, who had lost both legs, and then not turn up. Media reports also mentioned that the investigating officer had cited illness over a phone conversation.
In response to the public criticism, the officer visited the site on October 9 and carried out measurements.
Present during the inspection were Ashwini’s brother Pavan, husband Sitaram, relative Sumalatha Konaje, and BJP leaders Jagadish Alva of Kuvettabail, Muralidhar Konaje, and Pushparaj Harekal.
Debris to be cleared soon
Family members urged Ullal taluk panchayat executive officer Gurudath to clear the debris of the collapsed house at the earliest. He assured them that the clearance work would be undertaken soon.