Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 9: One-and-a-half years after a landslide at Uru Mane in Manjanady village of Ullal taluk claimed the lives of a woman and two children, no FIR has been registered in connection with the incident. Experts from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) have cited possible negligence during road construction as one of the factors that may have contributed to the landslide. However, the Konaje police are yet to initiate action against the engineers concerned, while the district administration remains uncertain about whom to hold accountable.
Meanwhile, the district administration is reportedly planning to provide a residential site to the affected family, although the move will be confirmed only after the site is actually allotted.
Initially, an investigation was conducted through engineers, but it remained incomplete. Subsequently, on the instructions of the deputy commissioner, NITK experts inspected the site and submitted a report to the district administration. The report identified three contributing factors, including possible negligence during road construction. Although the report was also submitted to the police department, no case has reportedly been registered against the engineers associated with the roadwork.
NITK experts conducted an inspection of the site on January 13, 2026, and identified several possible causes of the incident. These included heavy and continuous rainfall, excavation at the foot of the slope for house construction, and excavation for road construction.
The experts examined the site conditions, gathered information from local residents, inspected the landslide-affected area, assessed soil exposure and the characteristics of the debris, and studied recent changes made to the site.
The report described the affected location as a steep natural slope comprising laterite soil. Excavation for road construction and house construction had disturbed the lower portion of the slope. The report also highlighted the lack of adequate surface and subsurface drainage, along with soil saturation and softening.
With no clear resolution in the case, the deputy commissioner and the chief executive officer of the Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat have reportedly discussed whether an inquiry by a retired judge may be necessary.
Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Darshan H V said an inquiry by a retired judge would be conducted if required. The case is currently before the Human Rights Commission, and further action will be taken in accordance with its directions.
He said the roadwork had continued for five years, creating confusion over whom an FIR should name, and stressed the need for a proper examination of the case.
The Human Rights Commission has taken up the case for hearing before its full bench. The commission has examined a report previously submitted by the Mangaluru City police commissioner.
The commissioner has been issued a notice directing him to submit the final investigation report by December 7, and the next hearing in the case has been scheduled for December 16.
Treating the incident as a special case, the district administration will take steps to provide housing to the affected family. Since Ashwini has lost both her legs, efforts are being made to provide a house in an area close to a road to ensure better accessibility.
Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Darshan H V said that there was no need to construct a road at the landslide site in Manjanady. He noted that adequate precautions should have been taken during construction. However, the report had not concluded that the landslide occurred specifically because of the road construction.
Mangaluru City police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said the police had inspected the incident site and conducted an investigation. An Unnatural Death Report (UDR) had also been registered, and the investigation report had been submitted to the High Court.
He said the NITK report did not conclusively identify any single cause for the landslide. It also mentioned that the hillside had been excavated to construct a house, adding that the affected family had also been at fault for excavating the slope to build their house. He further pointed out that the exceptionally heavy rainfall, described as the heaviest in 25 years, was also a major factor behind the incident.
Activist Ravi alleged that officials responsible for negligence were being shielded. He said that although the NITK report mentioned negligence, no action had been taken in this regard, which was also affecting the court proceedings. He added that representations had been submitted to the deputy commissioner and the police department several times.