Human misery of mindless execution of NH work at Bevinje Hill

The massive landslides that affected the area in consecutive years has thrown lives out of gear for the 200-odd families on the hill and the valley below

- AROCKIARAJ J @Kasaragod

IT has been more than a year since Abdulla Kunhi, a retired Arabic teacher from Vellikundupara in Kasaragod, took his car out for a spin. His white Alto is rusting away as both the approach roads to his house on the hilltop are gone. Thanks to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the 71-year-old has been stranded on his house, Shiraza Manzil.

"They said they would fix it within two months after the landslide in July last year. It has been a year now. The other access road was destroyed in the landslide this year," says Abdulla who lives with his family in the house hanging on the cliff of Bevinje Hill.

The latest landslide he is referring to occurred at Bevinje in June. The massive landslide had disrupted traffic on NH66 between Cherkala and Chattanchal. Though the traffic has now resumed, the 200-odd families on the hill and the valley below live fearing a catastrophe. "When it rains hard, I pray to the Almighty that nothing untoward happens. It has been three years since we slept in peace," says Fausiya Mohammed Iqbal from Vellikundupara. Every time a red alert for rain is issued, the families receive a communication from the district administration to vacate the premises. They, however, decide to stay put.