Kumta : Three children, including two siblings, were buried alive and at least eight persons were injured in a landslide at Tandrakuli near Kumta on Sunday.

The dead have been identified as Bhavya Narayan Ambiga (10), Yatin Narayan Ambiga (8) and 10-month old Dhanush Manjunath Ambiga.

Bhavya and Yatin are the children of Rupa and Narayan Ambiga, who were injured in the mishap. Movement of vehicles on National Highway-66 was halted for more than eight hours due to the landslide.

Around 25 houses of fishermen are situated below a hillock adjoining the NH-66. The work on widening the National Highway is in progress. Local residents said that some four days ago, the company executing the work had blasted a part of the hillock using explosives. This had loosened the soil, resulting in the landslide. While the landslide occurred at 11 am, the bodies were extricated in the afternoon as incessant rain hampered the operation. At least eight houses collapsed due to mudslide and some residents were trapped under the debris.

Deputy Commissioner S S Nakul, who visited the spot, said that a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each would be paid to the family of the deceased and the government would bear the medical expenses of the injured.