Mangaluru: Nearly a year after the Manjanady Koppala tragedy that claimed the lives of Ashwini’s two children and left her without both legs, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan visited the site on Thursday to examine allegations of unscientific construction work that may have contributed to the collapse.
The inspection came amid renewed demands from Ashwini’s family for a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner also assured Ashwini that five cents of land, equivalent to 2,178 square feet, would be provided immediately to enable her to build a house.
DC orders proposal for residential site
During the inspection, Darshan directed the concerned taluk tahsildar to prepare a comprehensive proposal regarding the allocation of land and submit it to the Deputy Commissioner’s office at the earliest.
The assurance is expected to provide some relief to Ashwini, whose family has been seeking government support following the tragedy.
Darshan said the administration would take steps to provide the five cents of land and submit a report to the government in this regard. He also instructed officials to collect and submit the necessary documents and reports without delay.
The Deputy Commissioner said the purpose of his visit was also to ascertain the facts surrounding allegations that the construction work at the site had not been carried out scientifically.
Tragedy occurred on May 30, 2025
The Manjanady Koppala tragedy occurred on May 30, 2025. The incident had devastating consequences for Ashwini and her family, resulting in the deaths of her two children and leaving Ashwini without both legs.
The incident has continued to raise questions over the circumstances leading to the collapse and whether construction-related lapses contributed to the tragedy.
The latest inspection marks a significant administrative step, with the Deputy Commissioner personally visiting the location and reviewing the allegations raised by the affected family and local residents.
Family seeks detailed investigation
Ashwini’s brother Pavan Kumar met Deputy Commissioner Darshan during the visit and explained the difficulties faced by the family since the tragedy.
According to the family, they had not received the response they had expected from the government following the incident. Pavan Kumar urged the administration to provide the family with a suitable residential site located along the roadside.
He also submitted documents to support the family’s allegation that the construction work at the location had been carried out in an unscientific manner.
The family has sought a further investigation based on official records and technical reports connected with the construction work.
RTI documents submitted to DC
Pavan Kumar handed over documents obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the Deputy Commissioner. Reports submitted by the engineers concerned were also presented during the meeting.
The family requested the administration to examine these documents and take appropriate action based on the information contained in the records.
The submission of the RTI documents and engineers’ reports is expected to form part of the administration’s examination of the allegations.
The family has maintained that the available records should be reviewed in detail to determine whether any lapses occurred during the construction process.
Residents brief officials about alleged lapses
Local residents also met the Deputy Commissioner during the inspection and briefed him about the alleged shortcomings in the construction work carried out at the site.
They assured the administration of their full cooperation in the investigation and said they would provide whatever information was required to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
The residents’ representations added to the concerns raised by Ashwini’s family regarding the manner in which the construction work had allegedly been undertaken.
DC says truth will be ascertained
Speaking during the inspection, Darshan said the administration would examine the allegations and take steps based on the findings.
“I visited the site with the objective of ascertaining the truth regarding the alleged unscientific construction work. Steps will be taken at the earliest to provide five cents of land to Ashwini for a residence. A report will be submitted to the government in this regard,” he said.
He further said the tahsildar would be instructed to immediately submit the required documents and reports to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
The statement indicates that the administration intends to examine both the family’s demand for support and the allegations concerning the construction work.
Officials present during inspection
Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Vinayak Kharbikar, Executive Officer Gurudatt, Tahsildar Prashanth Patil, Revenue Inspector Pramod, Village Administrative Officer Chaitra and engineer Nithin were present during the inspection.
Ashwini’s husband Sitaram and several local residents also accompanied the officials during the visit.
The administration’s next steps are expected to include examination of the documents submitted by the family, collection of relevant reports and preparation of the proposal for providing residential land to Ashwini.
The inspection has therefore brought renewed administrative attention to a tragedy that has had a lasting impact on the affected family. The proposed allocation of five cents of land and further examination of the alleged construction lapses could provide important support to Ashwini while also helping establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse.