A deadly landslide in Montepadavu Kodi, Mangaluru claims three lives as a home is buried under a hill collapse triggered by relentless rain. A mother survived after nine hours under the debris.
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Heartbreak in Montepadavu: Landslide in Mangaluru Claims Lives of Grandmother and Two Children
Mangaluru | May 30, 2025 — In a devastating incident that has shaken the coastal Karnataka region, a landslide triggered by torrential rains in Montepadavu Kodi near Derala Katte, Mangaluru, resulted in the deaths of a grandmother and her two young grandchildren. The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, when a portion of a rain-weakened hillside collapsed onto the home of Kanthappa Poojary, burying the sleeping family under a mass of soil, stone, and uprooted trees.
The children’s mother, Ashwini, miraculously survived after being trapped for over nine hours beneath the debris. She is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mangaluru, where her condition is said to be critical but stable.
Mangaluru Landslide Tragedy: Grandmother and Two Children Killed, Mother Rescued After 9 Hours
The Victims: A Family Shattered
The deceased have been identified as:
Prema (54) – the grandmother
Aryan (3) – elder son of Ashwini
Aarush (2) – younger son
Ashwini had traveled from Bengaluru with her two children to attend a family ritual and was staying with her in-laws at the time of the incident. The entire family had gone to bed when a massive landslide hit around 4:00 AM, collapsing the rear section of the house and trapping all five occupants inside.
A Night of Rain Turns Fatal
Montepadavu, a hillside settlement vulnerable to erosion, had been battered by over 130 mm of rainfall within 24 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The combination of loose topsoil and a saturated slope proved catastrophic.
“The house stood on a slope with minimal retaining walls. The land behind it gave way, pushing boulders and trees through the walls,” said Dr. Meenakshi Nair, a local civil engineer familiar with the area.
The Rescue: Courage and Community
The tragedy could have been worse if not for the swift action of villagers and emergency responders. Locals were alerted by muffled cries beneath the rubble and began a frantic rescue operation with crowbars, buckets, and bare hands, before emergency teams arrived.
Ashwini was found alive, curled between broken beams and tree roots, dehydrated but conscious. She was administered oxygen on-site and rushed to hospital.
“She kept asking for her children even when we pulled her out. It was heartbreaking,” said Mahesh Rai, a volunteer from the first response team.
The two boys and their grandmother were pulled out hours later. Despite CPR attempts, Aarush could not be revived, and Prema and Aryan were declared dead at the scene.
Official Response and Relief Measures
District Collector Dr. M.P. Mullai Muhilan visited the site and announced:
A compensation of ₹5 lakh per deceased from the disaster relief fund
A complete survey of vulnerable hillside homes in Montepadavu and neighboring villages
Orders to evacuate residents in adjacent high-risk areas until the monsoon recedes
The Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued fresh alerts for potential landslides in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kodagu districts, urging residents to remain indoors during peak rain hours.
Larger Concerns: A Pattern of Neglect?
This is not the first time Montepadavu has witnessed such a tragedy. Local residents allege that repeated requests for slope stabilization measures and drainage improvements were ignored.
“Each year, we fear the monsoon. Our lands erode, homes crack, but nothing is done until someone dies,” said Sundar Poojary, a resident of a neighboring hill.
Experts have long warned of unchecked hillside construction and weak building codes in the region. Geologists have identified nearly 80 landslide-prone spots across Dakshina Kannada alone.
A Mother’s Unimaginable Loss
As Ashwini lies in her hospital bed, doctors and family members are preparing for the emotional fallout of breaking the news about her children.
“It is a clinical recovery, but the emotional trauma will be lifelong,” said Dr. Asha Kamath, a trauma specialist at the Mangaluru hospital treating her.
Conclusion: Nature’s Fury, A Community’s Grief
The Montepadavu tragedy stands as yet another somber reminder of the fragility of life in the face of nature’s fury—and of the urgent need for proactive disaster management, especially in terrain as volatile as coastal Karnataka.
As rains continue and red alerts remain in place, the people of Mangaluru mourn, prepare, and hope that such a tragedy need not strike again to trigger meaningful change.
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