A fresh landslide scare hits Kettikal near Vamanjoor in Dakshina Kannada as rains batter Mangaluru. NH-169 commuters face disruption amid failed slope-stabilization efforts.
As monsoon rains continue to lash coastal Karnataka, Kettikal near Vamanjoor in Mangaluru district has once again emerged as a ticking geological time bomb. The hillside along National Highway 169 (NH-169), long classified as a landslide-prone zone, is showing fresh signs of collapse — this time, threatening not just traffic but public trust in the administration’s ability to act on past warnings.
This morning, local residents woke to the sound of crumbling earth and topsoil slipping past what remained of a protective mesh, installed in 2024 following multiple dangerous soil displacements the previous year. With that mesh now mangled and ineffective, the exposed slope looms precariously over one of the district’s busiest routes.
Fresh Landslide Threat at Mangaluru’s Kettikal vamanjoor Sparks Public Outcry, Traffic Disruption
2023’s Wounds Still Fresh
In the monsoon of 2023, the same hillside had given way in three separate incidents, leading to the evacuation of homes, blocked highways, and the partial destruction of nearby private property. Though then-Deputy Commissioner Dr. Rajendra K.V. and the District In-charge Minister visited the site and promised a comprehensive slope stabilization program, little more than temporary fencing and tarpaulin sheeting was implemented.
“It’s the same promises, year after year. Nothing lasting ever comes,” said Srinivas Bhat, a local resident whose house sits just 200 meters from the danger zone.
Rain and Reluctance: A Lethal Mix
With torrential rain hammering Dakshina Kannada, the structural integrity of the hill has weakened further. Emergency response teams were deployed on Friday evening to begin cutting trees on the crest of the hill — a desperate measure to reduce weight and mitigate the chances of a full-scale landslide.
“This is not mitigation. This is last-minute firefighting,” said Geetha D’Souza, a geologist and environmental risk consultant. “Tree cutting won’t stop soil liquefaction or subsurface shear if proper reinforcements aren’t made.”
Adding to the tension, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Coastal Karnataka, forecasting continued heavy downpours through the weekend.
NH-169: Commuters Caught in Chaos
NH-169, the arterial route connecting Mangaluru to Moodbidri and Karkala, saw significant traffic disruptions throughout the day as debris and slush spilled onto the roadway.
Buses were rerouted intermittently, and heavy vehicles were instructed to halt at Padil Junction, causing gridlocks extending up to Pumpwell and Nanthoor. Yet, no official notification regarding diversions was issued by district authorities as of Saturday morning.
“We had to get schoolchildren out of buses and walk them through ankle-deep mud,” said Mohammed Riyaz, a commuter who got stranded during his morning ride to Moodbidri.
What’s Missing: Long-Term Planning
The repeated threats at Kettikal underscore a chronic governance lapse when it comes to geotechnical risk management in Karnataka’s hilly coastal districts.
In 2022, a proposal from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) suggested geo-grid reinforcement, retaining walls, and subsurface drainage systems to combat soil creep. The project was approved in principle but remains stuck in budget reallocation debates.
“We’re trying to finalize the vendor,” said a senior PWD official when asked about the project delay. “But red tape has stalled execution.”
Meanwhile, a site inspection by revenue and disaster management officials is expected later this week, but for many, it may be too little, too late.
Echoes of Past Warnings
Activists are furious, pointing out that Kettikal isn’t an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern.
“Subrahmanya, Charmadi, Shiradi — we’ve seen the same neglect repeated in every landslide-prone corridor,” said Sudhir Pai, convenor of the Mangaluru Civic Watch. “It’s time the state creates a dedicated monsoon response fund for the coast.”
An RTI query filed by Pai's group earlier this year revealed that of the ₹17 crore allocated for slope protection in Dakshina Kannada in 2024, only ₹4.2 crore was actually spent — most of it on temporary retaining structures.
Conclusion: A Test of Accountability
As the red alert continues and clouds darken over Kettikal once again, residents remain on edge. The fear isn't just of soil and rockfall, but of being buried beneath promises made and forgotten.
Unless proactive and permanent slope-stabilization infrastructure is implemented now, Kettikal could tragically become the next chapter in Karnataka’s growing list of preventable climate disasters.
“It’s not nature that betrayed us,” said Bhat. “It’s the people who said they’d protect us and didn’t.”
📌 Stay Updated: For real-time traffic advisories and emergency alerts in Dakshina Kannada, follow @MangaluruDC or visit dkdistrict.gov.in.
