In Kerala’s Idukki district, a devastating landslide buried a family’s house on Saturday night, killing Biju and leaving his wife, Sandhya, in critical condition. The tragedy unfolded in the village of Adimali, close to a national highway, and sparked a seven‑hour rescue operation that involved emergency teams and local residents.
The landslide struck at about 10:30 p.m., as a piece of the hill behind the couple’s home collapsed. Heavy mud and concrete debris swamped the house, trapping Biju and Sandhya under large concrete beams, broken walls, a bed and a cupboard. Their position made it difficult for rescuers to reach them safely.
Fire and Rescue Services and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) quickly joined the rescue. Even with heavy rain and unstable terrain, teams worked with JCB machines to push through layers of mud and debris. After painstaking effort, both survivors were pulled out of the rubble. Unfortunately, Biju died soon after rescue, while Sandhya was rushed to Rajagiri Hospital in Kochi, where she remains under intensive care.
Officials said the heavy concrete slabs made the rescue slow and risky. “We had to remove each slab carefully to avoid further collapse and watch for soil movement,” explained a fire service official on the scene.
Residents blame the rock‑scarred area’s recent hill demolition for the slide. The demolition—part of a road‑widening project—may have weakened the slope, leading to the break after prolonged rainfall. Authorities noted that 22 families already evacuated from the area helped avoid a larger disaster.
Other nearby houses suffered damage from mud and collapsed walls. The affected zone is now cordoned off, and local authorities are investigating the landslide’s exact cause.
Source: ianslive
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