7-Year-Old Girl and Woman Dead in Landslide as Heavy Rains Wreak Havoc in Dakshina Kannada

News Flash

30 May

CM Siddaramaiah Orders Emergency Action Amid Crop Loss, School Closures, and Landslides; Orange Alert Issued for Dakshina Kannada and Coastal Karnataka

Mangaluru: Torrential rains continue to lash Dakshina Kannada and coastal Karnataka, plunging several areas into crisis mode. In a heart-wrenching tragedy, a 7-year-old girl named Fatima Nayeema and a 58-year-old woman named Prem Kumari have died in a deadly landslide triggered by unrelenting rainfall in Montepadavu, Deralakatte.

As monsoon fury intensifies across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, the District Disaster Management Authority has declared a precautionary holiday for Anganwadis, government, aided, and private schools in the affected districts. The Meteorological Department has issued an Orange Alert, predicting three more days of intense rainfall along the coast.

"The situation is grave. Immediate relief and rescue are being ensured. All officials have been instructed to stay stationed in their districts until the crisis is under control," said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has convened a two-day emergency meeting starting tomorrow with district in-charge ministers, deputy commissioners, and zilla panchayat CEOs.

Landslide Horror in Montepadavu, Deralakatte

In one of the most tragic incidents of the season so far, a massive landslide near Jokatte Gram Panchayat in Mangaluru taluk has left multiple families devastated:

• 7-year-old Fatima Nayeema was critically injured after a compound wall collapsed on her house. Though she was rescued and admitted to a private hospital in Deralakatte, she succumbed to her injuries.

• Prem Kumari (58), trapped under debris, also died at the site.

• Five individuals were reported trapped initially; two have been rescued, while rescue operations for the remaining victims are underway.

“The entire hillside caved in. There was a loud roar, and then silence. It was terrifying,” said a local resident near Montepadavu, recounting the horrifying moment the landslide hit.

Widespread Damage, School Shutdowns, and Crop Loss

The relentless downpour has caused:

• Severe crop damage and property losses across parts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and surrounding districts.

• Multiple houses collapsed in Ullal taluk due to unstable foundations caused by rainwater seepage.

• Power outages and blocked roadways in semi-urban pockets, causing disruption to transportation and relief work.

The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has warned that if the current rainfall trend continues, there will be localised flooding, tree falls, and more landslides.

Government Response & Precautionary Measures

• Emergency relief teams have been deployed to vulnerable areas across the coast.

• CM Siddaramaiah has instructed all district in-charge ministers and senior officials to remain on-site and coordinate rescue, evacuation, and rehabilitation.

• The Health Department has been directed to stay on high alert, especially in flood-prone pockets, to prevent waterborne disease outbreaks.

“The government is fully prepared to tackle the monsoon challenge. We are prioritising safety, especially for vulnerable children and the elderly,” CM Siddaramaiah said.