Heavy rains trigger landslide near City Centre mall

Mangaluru: Residents of Classic Paradise building located near City Centre Mall in the city woke up to a thunderous sound, which they perceived to be an earthquake in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

As the residents rushed out of their building they came to know that the retaining wall of an under construction building near the City centre mall had collapsed. While no human casualties were reported in the incident three cars parked in the vicinity were damaged in the landslide that occurred due to the heavy rains last night.

A case has been filed with the police in this regard.

Speaking to Newskarnataka, Vidya Dinker, coordinator of Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development, who was at the fore front of the protest against the unscientific construction in this area that had forced civic authorities and builder to construct a retaining wall to avoid landslides, called this incident a case of criminal neglect.

Stating that there was a nexus between the builders and civic authorities, she alleged that not only the soil quality but also the historic importance of the Battagudda, which houses the historic light house, St Aloysious chapel and the Eidgah Masjid had been completely ignored while giving permission for constructions, citing developments in the area.

A case of criminal neglect should be filed against the authorities and a case of attempt to murder should be filed against the developers, she added.