Landslides had taken several lives and damaged properties in the higher reaches of Kerala since the monsoon commenced a few months ago. As the state limps back to normalcy after the unprecedented deluge of August, more incidents of damage are coming to light. At Adimali in the hilly Idukki district, which bore the brunt of the recent disaster, a four-storied house was found dislocated from its original location.
The house, belonging to a jeweller's family, in fact moved 10 feet as its base got shifted with erosion brought about by landslide. However, the mansion built on a hill slope suffered no substantial damage in the displacement. However, a car parked in the porch got buried as the stilts of the structure collapsed on August 16 around 8.30 am.
The mishap occurred a fortnight ago when all its occupants had vacated the place amid heavy rains. The structure, built close to the Government High School on one side of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi national highway, has its ground floor raised on pillars. Sheela Radhakrishnan, the owner, and her two daughters used to occupy the two floors and they had rented out one floor.
Sheela's husband Ambattukunnel Radhakrishnan had built the house four years ago. Radhakrishnan, who ran a jewellery shop in Adimali town, died early last year.
Today, Sheela and her children stay at their relatives’ house at Mannankala off Adimali on the foothills of the famed Munnar hill station, 27 km away.
