A tragic incident occurred in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, when seven members of a family, including five children, were killed in a landslide on Sunday evening. The landslide, caused by heavy rainfall, sent a large boulder crashing onto their house near the famous Arunachaleswara Temple.
The victims were identified as R. Rajkumar (32), his wife R. Meena (26), their children R. Gautham (9) and R. Iniya (7), along with their relatives S. Maha (12), M. Vinodini (14), and S. Ramya (12). The family was trapped under the debris, and it took nearly 20 hours to recover their bodies. A 170-member rescue team, including 35 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), worked throughout the night to search for survivors and retrieve the bodies.
The landslide took place around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, when the heavy rains caused the soil on Arunachala Hill to loosen. The boulder, falling from a height of 100 meters, hit the house directly, crushing it. Local residents quickly alerted the fire services and police. However, continuous rain made the rescue efforts difficult, delaying the search until a specialized NDRF team arrived from Arakkonam on Monday.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited the site of the landslide on Monday, offering condolences and support to the grieving families. Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports E.V. Velu also visited the area to inspect the damage and discuss measures to prevent future tragedies.
The incident has shocked the local community, and many of the relatives of the victims staged a protest, demanding better disaster management and more support for families affected by such events.
This heartbreaking loss has left the community in mourning, with many expressing concerns about the safety of homes built near the hills, which are prone to landslides during the monsoon season. Local authorities have assured that steps will be taken to ensure the safety of residents in the future.
