Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Jul 7: The Mukkuda hill that had taken the lives of three workers is likely to suffer further landslides. The road on the hill appeared to be broken at a distance of about 500 metres on the ground. The department of revenue has ensured that nobody goes close to it.

It may be recalled, the rubber cultivation shed belonging to Henry Carlo had five people staying in it. There was a landslide when one of them was outside the house. The local people rescued one person with the help of JCB and shifted him to Bantwal government hospital. Other three were stuck under the debris. Bantwal town and rural police who were alerted, fire services and NDRF team rushed to the spot and rescued them with the help of JCB and local people. However, out of four people three people died.

A case is registered against house owner Benedicta Carlo on the basis of a complaint lodged by Panjikallu village accountant Kumar at Bantwal police station. Benedict Carlo had telephoned the village accountant on July 5 about the caving in of the hill. While the village accountant who arrived at the spot and was inspecting the highland collapse on the yard of the house, damaging the shed raised with tarpaulins and used for drying the areca nuts. The village accountant has said that workers tapping rubber are staying in the old tiled house of Benedicta Carlo. As the hill was only collapsing a little, he had orally directed to vacate the rubber tapping workers from the spot. He had telephoned Carlo on July 6 reminding to relocate the workers as it was raining heavily. Kumar has alleged in the police complaint that failing to vacate the workers has caused the tragedy.

The house owner however has said that the village accountant only gave orders but took no safety measures. “The collapse of the hill was not expected. Nobody has asked to vacate the house. The village accountant is telling lies. He did not allow me to come during the visit of the MLA and minister. I have spoken to the MLA on the phone,” said Benedicta Carlo expressing her pain in front of reporters.