Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 8: In the tragic Manjanady landslide incident that claimed the lives of her mother-in-law and two children and left her both legs amputated, Ashwini continues to struggle for justice.
Even as the district panchayat’s rural drinking water and sanitation department issued a WhatsApp notice to Ashwini — the survivor of the tragedy — to appear for an inquiry on October 8, the investigating officer failed to turn up, citing ill health. This last-minute absence has drawn strong criticism from Ashwini’s relatives and well-wishers.
According to sources, Ashwini was served a notice to be present at the site on October 8 and 11 for investigation. Her family brought her from her mother’s home in Harekal to the site, but even by 11 am, the investigating officer had not arrived. When contacted over the phone, the officer reportedly replied that he was suffering from diabetes and was unwell, adding that he had already informed through a message at 9.30 am that he would not be able to come. He then disconnected the call.
Condemning the officer’s behaviour, Mangaluru mandal BJP president Jagadish Alva of Kuwettabail said that the road excavation had contributed to the landslide that killed Ashwini’s children and mother-in-law. “Officials have already produced false reports on the case. Today, the investigating engineer himself violated the law by sending a WhatsApp message saying he would not attend. Summoning a mother who has lost both legs to the site is an act of inhumanity. If the officers’ negligence continues, we will launch a strong protest,” he warned.
Former president Chandrakas Pandith House alleged that the officials were breaking the law and attempting to conceal the true cause of the tragedy. “It is legally required to provide at least seven days’ notice before conducting an inquiry. However, the notice was sent on October 7 via WhatsApp, calling a physically disabled survivor to the site the very next day — is this justice? Even after issuing the notice, the officer avoided duty citing illness. What kind of accountability is this? The government must immediately verify the false reports and ensure that justice is delivered to Ashwini,” he said, adding that due to the lack of police support, Ashwini’s case has long been denied justice.
Relative Sumalata Konaje expressed outrage, saying, “The officer sent a message at 9.30 am saying he would not come. They don’t even have the basic courtesy to consider how difficult it is to bring Ashwini, who has no legs, to the site. It’s been four months since the house collapsed, yet debris clearance has not been done. Without government support, Ashwini is struggling for her medical expenses and livelihood, forcing youngsters to seek public donations on social media. Valuable items remain under the rubble, but officials haven’t ordered clearance, leaving the family homeless. Though a probe committee was formed under the direction of the chief secretary, the officer in charge failed to visit the site.”
She added that this was not just a personal struggle but a fight to help Ashwini live independently and with dignity.
BJP youth morcha president Muralidhar Konaje, farmers’ morcha president Padmanabha Gatti Konaje, secretary Ramesh Bedrolike, Jeevan Prakash Manjanady, Uday Manjanady, Radhakrishna, Dhaksharaj, Nitesh, Jagadish Kulal, Sitaram, Pawan, Jagadish Kulal, Krishna Kulal and Sukhanand Shetty were present.
Pet dog gives birth to puppies in abandoned house
During the tragedy, the family’s pet dog, which had been tied outside the house, survived. For the past four months, the dog named Jimmy had been living alone in the deserted house and has now given birth to three puppies. The children loved dogs dearly and would always be with Jimmy. But today, the house that should have been filled with the laughter of the children lies buried in mud. The mother dog now sits amid the debris, caring for her newborn puppies without fear.