Adimali Landslide: Homeowner Dies Trapped, Wife Critical After House Collapse
ADIMALI: In a tragic landslide incident along the Dhanushkodi National Highway near Koombanpara Laksham Veedu Colony in Adimali, a homeowner identified as Biju lost his life after being trapped under concrete slabs when his house collapsed. His wife, Sandhya, sustained critical injuries and has been admitted to Rajagiri Hospital for specialized treatment.
The devastating accident occurred around 10:30 PM on Saturday, leaving the community in shock. The couple was caught in a massive landslide originating from the side of the national highway. Hours of extensive rescue operations, a joint effort by the Fire Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team, and local residents, were required to extricate them. Biju was finally pulled from beneath the concrete debris at 5 AM, but unfortunately, his life could not be saved. Minister Roshi Augustine confirmed that Sandhya suffered severe injuries and fractures to her leg.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the disaster was triggered by unscientific soil excavation carried out for the construction of the national highway. This activity resulted in a 50-foot high cutting, the upper part of which eventually gave way, collapsing onto the road and two houses located below. The landslide also caused widespread disruption to electricity supply in the area.
It has been revealed that Biju and Sandhya had earlier moved to their ancestral home due to a perceived threat of landslides in the vicinity. They had returned to their collapsed house specifically to retrieve essential documents. The unfortunate incident occurred while they were in the hall of their residence, as the landslide caused the roof to plummet down.
The initial findings strongly suggest that the unscientific methods employed in soil removal were a direct cause of the tragedy. A potentially larger catastrophe was averted because 22 families in the area had been preemptively evacuated on Friday following an earlier landslide incident. The couple had already faced personal tragedy, with their son having passed away from cancer a year ago. Their daughter is currently pursuing nursing studies in Kottayam. Earthmoving equipment was extensively used to clear the concrete debris and facilitate the rescue efforts.