Five killed in water tank collapse during Urs at Janglipeersab Dargah

January 4, 2015

Raichur, Jan 4: In a tragic incident, the walls of a newly built water tank collapsed during urs at a Dargah on the outskirts of Yapaladinni village, around 25 km from here, on Saturday morning killing five persons and injuring two others.

In a swift action, six persons, including gram panchayat officials, government engineers and the contractor were booked by the police for the incident.

The victims were among the estimated 10,000 people who arrived at the village to take part in the weeklong urs that was under way at the Hazarath Janglipeersab Dargah since Friday.

According to eyewitnesses, around 8.30 a.m., three of the four walls of the small water tank close to the dargah ” which had been filled with water for the first time on Friday ” collapsed on the pilgrims who were inside taking a wash.

Eeresh Kabber (29) and Jogi Pujari (55), both residents of Timmapurpet in Raichur; Huseinappa Kabber (21) of Gattu village in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana; Shahajahan (30) of Yemmiganur in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh; and Jomel Misal (40) of Odisha; died on the spot. Two others, who were injured, are recovering at the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences.

Immediately after the incident, several relatives and pilgrims staged a protest holding the Yapaladinni gram panchayat, zilla panchayat officials and the contractor responsible for the tragedy.

Officials said the tank was built by the gram panchayat at a cost of Rs. 2.29 lakh, and was opened to the public on Friday. The protesters alleged that the tank had been built without proper foundation or strong pillars.

Based on a complaint lodged by the Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary Mukkanna Karigar, the Yapaladinni police have booked Yapaladinni Panchayat Development Officer Chennamma, panchayat president Lakshmi Timmappa, its member Veeresh, Junior Engineer Niranjan, Assistant Junior Engineer G.N. Prakash and contractor Veeresh Reddy, under Sections 304a (causing death by negligence) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code.

Deputy Commissioner and in-charge Chief Executive Officer of ZP, Sasikanth S. Senthil, has suspended Ms. Chennamma and Mr. Niranjan. The district administration has announced a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the kin of the deceased.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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