Thiruvananthapuram: District collector Anju K S has ordered the immediate evacuation of residents of PRS Lake Ville apartment complex at Akkulam and a halt to construction activities at the nearby Good Shepherd School following a major mudslide that left the apartment building vulnerable. The collector has also directed the school management to arrange temporary accommodation for the affected families and take steps to eliminate the danger.According to the order, the landslide occurred barely 4m from the apartment complex, following excavation on the school premises for a new building. The collapse destroyed the adjoining retaining wall and caused extensive cracks, while a stretch of road in front of the apartment caved in over a length of around 50m and a depth of 15m.The collector, who is also the chairperson of the district disaster management authority, said the inspection had found that the school authorities had carried out excavation in an unscientific manner without adequate safety measures or a retaining wall as required under the permit conditions.Thiruvananthapuram tahsildar, city corporation secretary and district police chief, have been directed to coordinate the evacuation. The apartment residents’ association must submit a list of families requiring relocation to the village officer, while the school management has been made responsible for providing alternative accommodation.The construction activities can resume only after the affected portion is strengthened and the danger to the apartment complex is eliminated. The school management must submit a proposal detailing the measures to address the risk. The public works corporation, soil conservation, and mining and geology departments will examine the proposal before approval.The collector has also directed the corporation secretary to verify whether the construction was carried out within the approved plan and the district geologist to ascertain whether excavation exceeded the permitted limits. Appropriate legal action must follow if violations are established.The road collapse occurred due to heavy rain early on Tuesday. Reports said the apartment complex housed more than 70 families, several of whom moved to hotels or relatives’ homes following the incident. Residents and staff had also raised concerns about previous soil collapses in the area.The school, situated on a slope near Akkulam Lake, was undertaking construction of a new building adjacent to the apartment complex. The latest order places responsibility on the school management to address the immediate safety concerns before construction can proceed.
