Source : The Hindu Date : 26.06.2009
Landslip creates havoc in city
Special Correspondent
| A few buildings on Arya Samaj Road have been severely damaged |
A large bungalow, nursing home are worst hit
Police to send a report to Deputy Commissioner on the situation
— Photo: R. Eswarraj 
PRECARIOUS: The landslip on Arya Samaj Road in Mangalore on Thursday brought a few structures near Mangala Nursing Home to the verge of collapsing.
MANGALORE: A large house behind Mangala Nursing Home, belonging to Loretta Rebello, appears to be standing precariously atop a hill following a landslip on Arya Samaj Road here on Thursday. A part of the retaining wall of the nursing home too has collapsed into the premises of another house at the foothill.
The large house is about 50 ft above the surface of a plot which has been levelled for the construction of a building by Srushti Ventures. Its office in-charge Shwetang Shah told The Hindu that the company was constructing a 43-ft retaining wall to prevent landslip. Already about 30-ft wall had been raised when the landslip occurred, he said.
Retaining wall
Mihir Rebello, son of Mr. Loretta Rebello, said the landslip happened at 2.15 p.m. when a huge chunk of soil slipped, bringing down the retaining wall as well as pillars. Mr. Rebello said the builder had not reacted quickly in taking precautions and reduce the damage from further landslip. He told The Hindu at 4.30 p.m. that the builder could have covered the surface with tarpaulin to prevent further loosening of the soil owing to rainwater.
The slush created by the landslip has splashed all over the house of Grace D’Cruz, which is about 20 ft above the levelled site. Boulders from the retaining wall of the nursing home have been strewn near the bedroom of her house, while its windowpane has been broken. B. Balakrishna Gowda, town planning officer of Mangalore City Corporation, said that the builder had been asked to complete the work before the beginning of the monsoon but this had not been complied with. The builder would be asked to evacuate the people from the two houses before carrying on with the construction, he said.
Niranjanraj Urs, Mangalore East police inspector, who visited the spot, said that Mr. Rebello’s family had been advised not to live in the house.
He said he would send a report to the Deputy Commissioner stating that the house of Mr. Rebello might collapse any time. He said the police had not received any complaint from the residents of the house.