Kerala: Man dies, wife hospitalized in landslide after ignoring warnings
In Mannamkandam, Adimali, a 48-year-old man named Biju lost his life in a late-night mudslide on Saturday. His wife Sandhya was seriously injured.
Authorities had warned families to evacuate earlier that day due to landslide risks from unsafe highway construction nearby, but the couple returned home to either collect documents or prepare food, according to different reports.
Area declared dangerous, families demand permanent relocation
The mudslide was triggered by unscientific excavation for the NH-85 widening project, which left the hillside unstable.
Despite evacuation orders for 22-25 families, Biju and Sandhya went back home and were trapped when their house collapsed around 10:30pm.
After a five-hour rescue effort, both were pulled out—Biju sadly didn't survive; Sandhya is still hospitalized.
Police have launched an investigation and declared the area risky, with displaced families asking for permanent relocation.
The family had already faced loss last year when they lost their son; their daughter was away at nursing college during this incident.