Landslide at Karnataka road work site claims 3 lives, injures 4

At least three labourers were killed and four others injured after a landslide struck a road construction site at Hulikal Ghat in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district, police said on Friday. The deceased have been identified as Raghavendra (37), Raju (30), and Shabbir (40), all of whom were engaged in retaining wall construction work at the site.

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at a hairpin bend in Hulikal Ghat , located in Hosanagara taluk , along the Kundapura-Shivamogga road stretch. According to officials, a massive collapse of soil and rocks from the hillside buried workers who were carrying out road-related works. A total of seven workers were trapped in the landslide. While three died on the spot , rescue teams managed to pull out four injured labourers , who were subsequently shifted to hospitals in Kundapura and Udupi for treatment.

The mishap occurred during ongoing efforts to construct a retaining wall aimed at improving safety for vehicles navigating the ghat section, which is known for its steep curves and landslide-prone terrain . Following the incident, personnel from the police, fire, and emergency services rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations. A team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from Mangaluru also reached the site early Friday morning to assist in relief efforts.

Preliminary assessments suggest that the sudden collapse of loose soil and rocks from the upper slope triggered the landslide. Authorities have registered a case and initiated an investigation to determine whether adequate safety measures were in place at the worksite.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed grief over the incident and announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. In a post on X, he said he had spoken to District In-charge Minister Madhu Bangarappa to take stock of the situation. “I am deeply saddened to hear that three workers lost their lives when soil collapsed during the construction of a road barrier at Hulikal Ghat. I pray that the souls of the deceased rest in peace and that their families find the strength to bear this loss,” he said.

Calling the victims breadwinners of their families , the Chief Minister said the compensation was being extended on humanitarian grounds to support the bereaved families.