Landslide on Devimane Ghat: Car narrowly avoids disaster as rocks, mud fall onto road

Sirsi: A sudden landslide caused rocks and soil to collapse onto the road at Devimane Ghat on the Kumta–Sirsi road on Friday night. Three passengers travelling in a car had a close brush with danger but managed to escape unharmed.

The incident occurred around 10 p.m., reportedly due to heavy rain. The car was being driven by Shivaprakash Hegde, an official from the Assistant Commissioner’s office in Sirsi. Suma Hegde, a staff member of Canara Bank, and Kashi Bhat, a retired Food Safety Officer, were also travelling in the same vehicle.

The trio was reportedly returning from Kumta and had just passed Devimane Ghat, where they had briefly paused to offer prayers to the local deity. Moments later, rocks, mud, and a tree came crashing down onto the road.

Reacting swiftly, Shivaprakash Hegde applied the brakes and reversed the vehicle in time, narrowly avoiding a disaster. Locals noted that had the car moved just a few feet further, it could have been trapped under the debris.

Following the incident, Hegde informed Sirsi Assistant Commissioner Kavya Rani about the landslide. She took immediate action to ensure that light vehicles could continue to move safely through the area.