Tirthahalli landslip: Three missing, one injured after hillock collapses amid heavy rains
Three persons are missing and another was injured following a landslip at Tirthahalli in Shivamogga district early on Sunday, August 2, 2026, after heavy rains lashed the region.
According to the taluk administration, a portion of a hillock at Gandhi Nagar in Tirthahalli town gave way around 3.30 a.m., damaging houses in the vicinity. The retaining wall built to shield residents collapsed, causing the landslip.
The missing are three members of a family from Gangavathi in Koppal district, who are believed to have been trapped under the debris. Rescue teams, including Fire and Emergency Services personnel, arrived at the spot shortly after the incident. One person was pulled out of the debris and shifted to McGann Hospital in Shivamogga for treatment. Hospital staff said the rescued person is out of danger.
Tirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra visited the site early on Sunday. He said the affected were labourers who had come from different parts of the State in search of work. “Three members of a family, including a child, are believed to be trapped under the debris. Efforts are on to trace them. Meanwhile, the person who was rescued is out of danger,” he said.
Senior police and revenue officials are monitoring the rescue operations from the spot. The administration has deployed earthmovers to clear the debris. The exact number of houses affected is yet to be ascertained, an official said.
The incident has turned the spotlight on the vulnerability of the Malnad region, which receives some of the highest rainfall in Karnataka during the south-west monsoon. Landslips have been a recurring problem in hilly parts of Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu districts, often due to unstable slopes and inadequate drainage.
Tirthahalli, nestled in the Western Ghats, has seen multiple landslips over the years. In many cases, retaining walls constructed to hold back soil have failed, either due to poor design, lack of maintenance, or the sheer intensity of rain. Local residents have repeatedly urged authorities to strengthen such structures and avoid constructions on steep slopes.
The India Meteorological Department has warned of continued heavy rain in the region for the next two days. Officials have advised people living near hill slopes to evacuate voluntarily and report any unusual movement of soil or water seepage.
As a precautionary measure, the district administration has shifted residents of adjacent houses to a nearby government building. A temporary relief centre has been set up at a local school.
The rescue operation is continuing, and more personnel from the State Disaster Response Force have been requisitioned, according to sources in the district administration.
Further details, including the identities of the missing persons, will be revealed after the debris is cleared, officials said.
