Mangaluru: A severe landslide has struck Kaiguri in Permanki, near Ulayibettu, on the outskirts of Mangaluru, following relentless rainfall. The incident mirrors the recent Kettikal highway collapse and has resulted in major infrastructure damage, including the complete breakdown of the tar road connecting Ulayibettu to Permai Church. Residents are now forced to take a lengthy detour via Malluru to access Mangaluru.
Around four feet of road has caved in, and soil displacement across a one-kilometre stretch has damaged houses, plantations, and blocked access to villages. Arecanut and coconut trees have been buried or bent under soil pressure. The landslide began on Sunday and intensified on Monday, further damaging farmland. No debris clearance has started yet.
The Permanki Padavi–Palikatte–Malluru Uddabettu road has also collapsed, leaving hundreds of homes disconnected. One severely affected house, belonging to Yehuzhe, developed wide cracks and has been declared unsafe. The family has shifted to a relative’s home in Vamanjoor.
Due to its higher elevation, Permanki sees streams flowing downhill into Kaiguri. The landslide has disrupted their course, forming temporary waterfalls and flooding nearby areas. The soil erosion may have been triggered by red laterite rock formations and prolonged waterlogging, which experts say needs closer geological assessment.
Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer Mahesh Kumar and Ulayibettu PDO Anita Katyayani visited the site. Kumar confirmed significant damage and promised a report to the Deputy Commissioner. Katyayani stated that relief operations are currently stalled due to continued rainfall and require district-level intervention.