Three dead, two injured after landslide during construction of retaining wall in Madikeri

MADIKERI: Three labourers were killed in a landslide where a retaining wall was being built at a construction site, in Stewart Hill area of Madikeri city on Monday night. The deceased were identified as Basappa, Ningappa and Ananda, all hailing from Chikkodi taluk in Belagavi.

The landslide occurred while removing soil for construction of the retaining wall. While five men were working, four workers got trapped under the soil. Fortunately, labourer Raju came up with the help of other workers and was saved. The three others could not be saved as they were buried under the mud.

Locals said about 8 workers were working at the time of the accident. Police and fire brigade personnel reached the spot immediately after the incident, extricated the bodies and sent them to the district hospital. Kodagu SP Ramarajan, Madikeri MLA Manthar Gowda, District Collector Venkataraju inspected the spot.

Speaking to the media, SP Ramarajan said the incident occurred while constructing a 15-foot-high retaining wall. The hill collapsed and mud fell on the workers. Four of them were caught under the soil of whom one was saved by the other workers. “The other three were trapped under the mud for an hour. Everyone worked tirelessly to rescue them”, he said.

It is said that the soil structure (filling) did not seem to be strong at the place where the work was being carried out. It was also not known whether permission had been obtained to carry out the work. Prima facie, there seems to be negligence on the part of the house owner and citizens demanded that the police take legal action against him.  A case has been registered in the Madikeri Town police station in connection with the incident.