Adimali Landslide: Couple Dies While Retrieving Ration Card Amidst Negligence Claims
Local residents in Adimali are grappling with the shock and sorrow following a devastating landslide that struck the Lakshmiveedu Unnati area around 10:30 PM on Saturday night. The tragedy has sparked outrage among locals, who allege that grave negligence on the part of authorities, despite repeated warnings about the imminent risk, led to the disaster.
According to residents, authorities only began evacuating people by Saturday evening, after warnings of a potential landslide intensified. However, a contentious directive reportedly issued by officials at the temporary relief camps became a critical factor in the unfolding tragedy. It is alleged that camp administrators insisted on the production of ration cards for families to secure their stay, a requirement that locals claim directly led to the death of a couple.
Eyewitnesses and neighbors recounted the harrowing events. “It had been raining incessantly for days. We only got a slight respite yesterday,” one local resident stated. “If the rain had continued yesterday, an even larger disaster would have struck here, destroying many more houses. We moved to the government school as per the ward member’s instruction. But upon arrival, they insisted on a ration card. Even when we asked if Aadhaar cards and mobile numbers would suffice, they were firm that a ration card was mandatory. It was to retrieve this ration card that we returned home.”
The resident further explained, “It was around 8 PM when we went back. The accident occurred shortly after we took an auto, collected the ration card, and left. If I had been just ten minutes late, I too would have been caught in it. The victims of this tragedy also returned home specifically to fetch their ration cards. That’s how they unfortunately became trapped.”
The landslide, which occurred at the Lakshmiveedu Colony area in Koombanpara, Adimali, along the Dhanushkodi National Highway, was reportedly caused by the collapse of the upper part of a cutting, over 50 feet high. This cutting had been formed due to extensive soil excavation carried out for the construction of the national highway. The massive volume of soil and concrete slabs that detached from the hillside fell directly onto two houses. In the aftermath, Bijumon (41) was tragically killed, trapped under the concrete slabs of his collapsed home. His wife, Sandhya, sustained serious injuries and has been admitted to Rajagiri Hospital for specialized treatment.