Mangalore, July 08: Unscientific construction during the expansion work of National Highway 169 between Mangalore-Karkala in Dakshina Kannada district has led to a landslide.
The vertical digging of a hill in Kethikkal near Vamanjoor on the outskirts of Mangalore has been leading to landslides every rainy season. It is said that the DBL company, which was responsible for the tragedy while constructing a tunnel in Wayanad, Kerala, has taken up this highway work.
Due to the company’s unscientific methods, hill landslides have become common in this area for the last three years. This time, the soil collapsed on the road and traffic on one side was blocked. Arrangements have been made for two-way traffic on only one lane.
The soil nailing method done last year also failed, and currently they are moving forward with the construction of a barrier. Not only in Kethikkal, similar unscientific excavations have been carried out in other parts of the highway.
If a large-scale landslide occurs, more than 200 houses and villages downstream are at risk. Last year, 12 houses were evacuated.