Karwar, Jun 12: A massive landslide triggered by heavy rain claimed the lives of three children including a small child at Tandarakuli in Divagi village of Kumta in Uttara Kannada district on Sunday.
The victims have been identified as Bhavya Ambiga (13), Yateen Ambiga (7) and one-and-a-half-year-old Dhanush Ambiga. Around eight houses adjacent to National Highway 66 and near the Aghanashini river were razed, injuring nearly 10 people.
Traffic on the highway was affected for a few hours following the tragedy in the morning. Police banned heavy vehicles on the stretch and diverted them towards Sirsi. Only light vehicles were allowed to ply on NH66 between Divagi and Gokarna Cross.
Kumta and its surrounding areas have been lashed by heavy rain since Saturday after monsoon entered Uttara Kannada district two days ago. Residents of Tandarakuli said mud rolled off a cliff adjacent to the highway and fell on the houses which belonged to fishermen living on the banks of the Aghanashini.
Victims alleged that the highway was being converted into a four-lane one and the contractor had recently lopped the cliff made of clay soil, leading to Sunday's disaster. As the rain beat down on the houses, some with tiled roofs and some with metal, a huge heap of mud and boulders came down all of a sudden, said residents.
"Some of us could escape but the three children were trapped in mud. It all happened in just about five minutes and we could do nothing. We watched helplessly," said one resident.
Three children died within minutes. Fire department personnel, policemen and district administration officials rushed to the spot and helped rescue those stuck in the mud.
Earth moving equipment was used to clear the slush. The bodies of the three children were also extricated. Deputy commissioner S S Nakul and Kumata MLA Sharada Shetty visited the disaster zone and spoke to the victims. The injured have been admitted to the government hospital in Kumta. Families living in the area have been evacuated to the government school in Divagi and provided with food and clothes.
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