Landslides at 45 places, Shiradi Ghat shut

Landslides occurred at as many as 45 locations on Shiradi Ghat on Monday. The Ghat, which connects Mangaluru and Bengaluru saw landslips at 26 places and soil caving in at 19 locations.

Sakleshpur Assistant Commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy has issued orders banning movement of all kinds vehicles on Shiradi Ghat till further notice. “It is difficult to allow movement of vehicles since landslides are still occurring. Hence the ban has been imposed,” he said.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Junior Engineer Muniraj said that six earthmovers had been pressed into service to clear the road.

NHAI superintendenting engineer Raghavan said that since water mixed with mud was flowing on the road, it had become difficult to speed up road repair. By the time soil is cleared at one place, road caves in at another place.

Hence, the chief engineer has suggested to take up repair after the rain subsides. Meanwhile, sand bags are being used to build walls for facilitating movement of vehicles near Kempuhole. Plans are on to introduce one-way traffic at places where there is much damage. However, works are being taken up at brisk pace and the road will be open for the movement of light vehicles in another week, he added.