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A landslip at Kumbanpara, near Adimaly, in Idukki on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway late on Saturday claimed the life of Biju, a Laksham Veedu colony resident, and seriously injured his wife, Sandhya. The District Collector has directed that the road-widening works on the highway be stopped. The landslip occurred around 10 p.m. on Saturday. Eight houses were destroyed in the calamity and many people have been shifted to relief camps. On Friday, another landslip had occurred near the spot, causing traffic snarls, and the authorities had moved the residents to a relief camp at the Adimaly government school. Biju and Sandhya had returned home from that camp to retrieve a few important documents and valuables when the second landslip struck. According to the rescue team members, piles of sodden mud partially buried the couple’s house, trapping them inside. They extricated Sandhya around 2 p.m. and shifted her to the hospital. They could find Biju only around 5 a.m. on Sunday. Doctors at the Adimaly hospital later pronounced him dead. Biju’s body was handed over to relatives after post-mortem examination. Sandhya has been admitted to a private hospital in Ernakulam. Residents alleged that the drastic excavation of mud for the widening of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway had caused the mishap. They accused the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) contractors of showing scarce concern for public safety. Special team formed The district administration has formed a special team to inspect the landslip threat facing NH 85 and other places in the district and submit a primary report within two days and a detailed report within four days. The district geologist, hazard analyst, soil conservation officer, groundwater department district officer, PWD National Highway Wing executive engineer, NHAI executive engineer, and the Devikulam tahsildar will be the team members. A meeting called by Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine at Adimaly on Sunday decided to shift the 44 families in the landslip-hit area at Koombanpara in Adimaly. “The NHAI has been directed to provide immediate assistance to the affected families,” said Mr. Augustine. Govt. seeks report The State government has sought a report from the NHAI. In a press release, the NHAI claimed that following a communication on October 22, from the Idukki District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) regarding a potential landslip, NHAI officials had visited the site and submitted a report confirming the likelihood of a landslip. “The report also recommended the immediate evacuation of families in the vicinity. The district administration issued formal notices to all resident families, warning them of the danger and instructing them to evacuate. Families at risk were safely relocated to a temporary relief camp at the Adimaly government school. Traffic movement in the area had also been suspended from 10 a.m. on Saturday as a precautionary measure,” said the release. “At the time of the incident, no construction activities related to highway widening were under way at the affected site. Furthermore, the NHAI and the DDMA had implemented several measures to minimise the potential impact of the landslip,” claimed the release.
