Updated

Mohan Kuthar

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru 

Mangaluru, May 30: In a tragic incident caused by relentless rainfall, a house located at Pambada Hiththilu Kodi Koppala in Manjanady village was completely destroyed by a landslide, claiming the lives of a grandmother and her two grandchildren. The children’s mother is in critical condition, while the house owner has lost a leg due to severe injuries.

The deceased have been identified as Prema (60), and her grandchildren Aryan (3) and Aarush (2). The house owner, Kanthappa Poojary, sustained a serious injury to his left leg and has undergone amputation. His son, Seetharam, narrowly escaped the tragedy. 

Seetharam’s 45-minute battle to escape

Around 3:30 am, Seetharam was awakened by a loud noise. On stepping outside, he noticed the hillside behind the house giving way. He rushed back in, alerted his parents and urged them to flee. He also tried to wake his wife and children, but the house collapsed before they could escape.

Prema died on the spot. Ashwini, the children's mother, clung to her sons in a desperate attempt to save them. Aryan was buried under debris and died despite his mother’s efforts. Ashwini held onto both children and cried for help until she was rescued.

Seetharam struggled for about 45 minutes to escape and eventually managed to crawl out through a ventilation gap. He ran to the neighbours to seek help and informed his brother Maveen. Locals arrived and managed to rescue Kanthappa Poojary, but others were buried under the debris, making immediate rescue impossible.

Ashwini was heard pleading with rescuers to save her children, a heart-wrenching scene that moved all present.

Poor access hampers rescue operations

The house is located near a plantation and is accessible only by a footpath, with no motorable road leading to it. It is about 1.5 km from the nearest concrete road, forcing rescue personnel to carry equipment by hand. Although Hitachi and JCB machinery were brought in, they could not be used due to lack of road access.

Teams from NDRF and SDRF arrived around 7 am and launched rescue operations. Ashwini and Aarush were found alive. The operation continued for about five hours, during which Aarush’s body was retrieved first, followed by Aryan, who was found alive but succumbed in hospital. Later, Ashwini was also rescued from the debris.

Doctors led by Dr Vikram Shetty from KS Hegde Hospital provided continuous oxygen, water, and air support to the mother and child during the rescue. Despite their efforts, the younger child could not be saved.

Incident highlights communal harmony

The house is surrounded predominantly by Muslim households. Local Muslim youths were the first to rush in for rescue and supplied the necessary tools and equipment, participating in the operation voluntarily and showcasing humanity and unity.

Asif, a neighbour who rushed in during the early moments, tearfully recalled Ashwini’s desperate request to save her children. Local youth also helped bring in equipment to cut through concrete beams and worked alongside the NDRF and SDRF teams. Locals alleged that delays in the operation occurred due to lack of equipment in the initial stages.

ADC Santosh, tahsildar Puttaraju, DCP Siddarth Goyal, natural disaster officer Vijay, operation officer Gurudath, Manjanady panchayat president Sarojini, Naringana panchayat president Nawaz Naringana, and leaders like Ivan D’Souza, Satish Kumpala, Santosh Boliyar, Ramesh Shetty Boliyar, and N S Kareem coordinated and supported the rescue operation on-site.

Family members had just returned

Seetharam’s brother Maveen and his wife were living nearby at Pottolike due to the recent birth of their child two months ago. Had they been at the house, they too would have likely perished in the collapse.

Ashwini and her two children had returned from her maternal home in Harekal Pavoor just three days ago after attending a family function. Fate, however, had a different plan.

Complaint filed against PDO and engineers

Ashwini’s relatives have filed a complaint with Konaje police station against Manjanady panchayat PDO Chaitra, KRIDL officials, zilla panchayat engineers, and contractors. The complaint states that the tragedy occurred due to unscientific road work and negligence. They have requested action under BNS Sections 105 and 106 against the responsible officials.

Earlier report

Mangaluru: Woman dies as house collapses in landslide; three others trapped under debris

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 30: In a tragic incident triggered by continuous heavy rains, a house collapsed in a landslide at Pambada Hithilu Kody Koppala, Montepadavu in Manjanady village on Friday, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to two others. Three members of the family remain trapped under the debris as rescue operations continue in full swing.

The deceased has been identified as Prema (58). Her husband, Kanthappa, sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to a hospital. Their son, Seetharam Poojary, fortunately escaped the incident unharmed.

Seetharam’s wife, Ashwini, and their two young children, aged 3 and 2 years, were sleeping inside the part of the house that collapsed due to the landslide. They are believed to be trapped under the debris.

The incident occurred around early in the morning. Locals rushed to the spot and began rescue efforts immediately, but due to the complete collapse of the house, operations proved difficult. Later, personnel from the NDRF, SDRF, fire and emergency services, and police arrived and intensified the search and rescue mission.

Ashwini was reportedly able to communicate slightly from within the debris, and sounds of one of the children crying were also heard, raising hopes for their survival. Continuous rain is hampering the rescue operation, but authorities and locals are extending all possible help.

ADC Santosh Kumar, tahsildar Puttaraju, DCP Siddharth Goyal, Natural Disaster Management officer Vijay, executive officer Gurudath, Manjanady panchayat president Sarojini, Naringana panchayat president Nawaz Naringana, and leaders including Ivan D’Souza, Satish Kumpala, Santosh Boliyar, Ramesh Shetty Boliyar, and NS Kareem are present at the site and supervising the rescue efforts.