Did NHAI Warn About the Landslide Before Biju's Death?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Biju's tragic death highlights the importance of disaster preparedness.
- The NHAI had issued warnings days prior to the incident.
- Residents were evacuated to safety before the landslide.
- Continuous monitoring of the area is now in place.
- Public adherence to safety advisories is crucial.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 26 (NationPress) The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has conveyed profound condolences regarding the unfortunate demise of a man named Biju, who lost his life in a landslide that occurred near Adimaly on the NH-85 corridor late on Saturday night.
The incident took place around 10:45 p.m. on October 25, and his wife Sandhya was injured but rescued after a seven-hour operation conducted by local authorities.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NHAI mentioned that it acted swiftly upon receiving a warning from the Idukki District Disaster Management Unit (DDMU) on October 22 about a potential landslide.
After conducting an inspection, NHAI engineers determined the possibility of a landslide and immediately advised the evacuation of families living near the precarious slope.
Following this advice, the district administration issued official evacuation notices and relocated residents to a temporary relief camp established at the Adimaly Government School.
To ensure safety, traffic movement on the impacted segment of NH-85 was halted starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday as a precautionary measure.
“Regrettably, the tragedy unfolded when Shri Biju and his wife returned home briefly from the relief camp for a personal matter,” stated the NHAI.
“At the time of the incident, there was no ongoing highway widening or construction activity at the site.”
The authority further stressed that it had coordinated with the DDMU to implement a series of preventative measures to mitigate the impact of any possible landslides.
“These proactive measures significantly minimized the extent of the damage,” they stated.
NHAI also urged the public to strictly follow safety advisories issued by disaster management and highway authorities.
Continuous monitoring of the site is currently in progress, with NHAI officials collaborating closely with the district administration, local representatives, and residents.
“We are fully committed to safeguarding human lives and property and will persist in our efforts until the situation is completely normalized,” the statement concluded.