VISAKHAPATNAM: Rocks rolled down a hillside in Sanjeevayyanagar colony of Thatichetlapalem area in Vizag on Sunday. Four people belonging to two families, including a child were killed and as many injured. Rescue and relief teams were rushed to the spot and injured victims were shifted to a nearby hospital, according to reports.

The incident took place in the wee hours when a giant boulder from a hillock fell on a house, located near hill slope in Thatichetlapalem, where the deceased lived, said City Police Commissioner Amit Garg.

While three people died on the spot, another man succumbed to injuries King while undergoing treatment at the government-run King George Hospital, the official said. Among the deceased is a seven-year-old boy. The deceased were identified as Adinarayana (7), Suryanarayana (65), Adilakshmi (55) and Sriram (22). Four others who were injured in the rockslide are taking treatment at the hospital and their condition is said to be stable, the official added.

Heavy rains throughout Saturday night are believed to have caused the disaster. GVMC commissioner, Praveen Kumar, said that the boulder broke off from the hill due to Saturday last night’s unexpected rain. GVMC staff had to struggle to retrieve, two bodies from debris and the boulder.

HRD minister Ganta Srinivas Rao and Vizag MP, K Haribabu, visited the spot. Rao said that several houses have been built in areas vulnerable to landslides. He also asked the civic body officials to identify such sensitive areas in the city and take necessary measures that such incidents do not occur.

“This kind of area is known for these kinds of disasters. We have a technical team consisting of a geologist, morphologist who will study and submit a report in two weeks. We will submit this report to district committee. We have to take hard decisions to ensure that such accidents do not take place in the future,” VMC Commissioner Praveen Kumar said.