Mangaluru: A major landslide near Anebail in Gurupura, on the outskirts of Mangaluru, has left three families fearing for their safety after their houses were severely damaged and placed on the verge of collapse. Residents have alleged that illegal hill cutting on private land, combined with official negligence, triggered the disaster.
The landslide occurred following continuous heavy rainfall, which caused the slope behind the house of Ajmal to give way, damaging the rear portion of the building. The family has since been shifted to a rented house with the assistance of a local donor as the structure is considered unsafe.
Residents blame illegal excavation
According to local residents, the owner of an adjacent property allegedly excavated and cut the hill using JCB machines without implementing mandatory safety measures. They claim the excavation weakened the slope, making it vulnerable to collapse during the recent rains.
Besides Ajmal’s residence, the houses of Ibrahim and Usman have also been affected, with unstable soil posing a continuing threat to their homes.
Families allege official inaction
The affected residents said they had submitted a complaint to the gram panchayat nearly three weeks before the landslide, warning about the danger. However, they alleged that no effective preventive measures were taken.
According to the families, the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) initially assured them that tarpaulin sheets would be provided as temporary relief but later informed them that there were no funds available and existing rules did not permit such assistance.
The residents also expressed disappointment that no senior government official had visited the site despite the seriousness of the situation. Instead, they were advised to shift to a relief centre.
Water tank and highway also at risk
Ajmal said he had borrowed nearly ₹12 lakh four years ago to construct his house and now fears losing everything.
Social activist Latheef Gurupura warned that a gram panchayat water tank supplying drinking water to nearly 500 households is located in the vulnerable area. He cautioned that if the landslide continues, it could also threaten the nearby national highway.
The affected families have urged the taluk and district administrations to conduct an immediate inspection, investigate the alleged illegal hill cutting, implement permanent safety measures, and provide compensation and rehabilitation before the situation worsens.