Rain havoc: Nine landslides on Charmadi Ghat choke traffic

Massive landslides that occurred on Charmadi Ghat (NH-234) due to copious rains, has severely affected the free flow of traffic on the ghat highway. Landslides occurred at nine locations of the ghat.

Hillocks that caved-in and blocked the road, following Monday night's incessant downpour, has led to a traffic piling up for several kilometres on either side of the ghat.

Motorists travelling between Mangaluru and Bengaluru via Charmadi Ghat on Monday night, underwent a harrowing experience as they were stuck in a traffic jam in the middle of the ghat all night.

Road clearing operations were painfully slow and arduous because as one side of the road was being cleared of slush and huge trees, a landslide would occur on the other side of the highway. Vehicles remained stranded for several kilometres on either side of the stretch since Tuesday morning.

Following the closure of the Shiradi Ghat (NH-75) for the second phase of the work, the traffic on Charmadi Ghat had increased.

All the vehicles bound to Mangaluru from Chikkamagalur have been diverted from Kottigehara. Following the closure of Charmadi Ghat, the alternative route to Mangaluru-Bengaluru via Karkala-Kalasa-Kottigehara or Puttur-Sullia-Madikeri.

Due to a landslide between Kadagara Valli and Yedekumeri Railway Stations in Hassan-Mangaluru section of Mysuru division, train service was affected even on Tuesday. Train No 16523 Bengaluru - Mangaluru Central -Karwar /Kannur Express to Mangaluru via Palakkad is scheduled to reach Mangaluru at 2 pm. The train had left Bengaluru on Monday night.

According to D-K SP Ravimakanthe Gowda, the Belthangady and Dharmasthala police are at the spot clearing the landslide debris. Measures have been taken to supply biscuits and water to stranded passengers especially children, senior citizens and diabetic patients.