Guwahati: A landslide damaged a guard wall at Ramcha Hill in Kharghuli on Sunday, prompting the evacuation of a homestay.The wall of a three-storey building collapsed around 11 am after spells of rain, DDMA officials and witnesses said. Residents, shopkeepers and customers nearby escaped unhurt, but six two-wheelers parked on the road were damaged, and nearby shops suffered minor damage.District administration teams cleared debris from the road, covered the slide path with tarpaulin to prevent water seepage, and began building a temporary retaining wall to check further debris movement. The building, which housed a homestay, was evacuated amid fears of more slides.“A closet in my shop is broken, and some minor goods were damaged. My scooter was destroyed after being buried under the rubble,” said Dhiraj Talukdar, a vendor.Beltola resident Dipankar Sarma alleged that trees were felled and soil dumped on the hillside three months ago.Divisional soil conservation officer (south bank) Deepanjali Brahma said preliminary findings indicated loose, freshly laid soil blocked a natural drain and absorbed water.DDMA CEO Raja Baishya said, “We issue notices to every household in landslide-prone areas, and if necessary, relocate families to camps.”
