Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]: A landslide on the national highway near Shirur in Ankola taluk of Uttara Kannada district is feared to have claimed the lives of seven people, including four members of a single family. The government has taken this matter seriously and has directed the district administration to provide immediate compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the deceased, Karnataka Minister Krishna Byre Gowda informed the assembly on Tuesday.
Providing details about the Ankola accident during the legislative session on Tuesday, he said, “The national highway runs between a river and a hill, where some unauthorised small canteens have been set up along the roadside. The incident occurred when tanker drivers transporting cooking gas (LPG) stopped their vehicles for tea.”
The landslide swept away the tanker lorry and the canteens into the river. It is suspected that seven people, including four family members and the tanker drivers, have died. The deceased have been identified as Lakshman Naik (47), Shanti Naik (36), Roshan (11), Avantika (6), and Jagannath (55). The body of Shanti Naik was recovered during the rescue operation, Minister Gowda informed the assembly.
The rescue operation is ongoing, with fire brigade and NDRF teams dispatched to the site. Additionally, the district in-charge minister has rushed to the location. Officials from Indian Petroleum Limited are also on-site, working to safely retrieve the gas cylinders washed away in the water.
The district administration has been instructed to provide immediate compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victims. Although the drivers are not from our state, they were here for work and met with this unfortunate accident. Therefore, compensation will be provided to them as well, he stated.
Responding to the cause of the accident in the assembly, Minister Gowda said, “I visited this area last year during heavy rains. The national highways are not constructed scientifically. Moreover, the canals of the Kaiga nuclear power plant are also not systematic.
I had already warned about the possibility of landslides, but the National Highway Authority officials did not heed our warnings,” he expressed dissatisfaction.
Responding to the cause of the accident in the assembly, Minister Gowda said, “I visited this area last year during heavy rains. The national highways are not constructed scientifically. Moreover, the canals of the Kaiga nuclear power plant are also not systematic.
I had already warned about the possibility of landslides, but the National Highway Authority officials did not heed our warnings.”
He expressed dissatisfaction and said, “National Highway Authority officials do not listen to us. Whatever we say, they simply respond by saying their central office is in Delhi and that they will write a letter. However, the government has taken this incident seriously.”
“Discussions with the National Highway Authority officials will be held today itself. Additionally, a letter will be sent through the Chief Secretary of the government. All necessary steps will be taken to prevent such accidents in the future,” Minister Gowda assured the assembly.