Major landslide occurs at Kalinga Ghat

Baliguda: A major landslide occurred at Kalinga Ghat in Odisha’s Kandhamal district following a heavy rainfall in the area disrupting movement of vehicles on Tuesday.

As informed by sources, the landslide occurred barely an hour ago and came to light when an ambulance driver while carrying patient to Berhampur from Raikia area noticed it and informed the local administration. Fortunately, the landslide did not fall either on any vehicle or individual.

However, movement of vehicles from Berhampur and Bhubaneswar to Phulbani and Baliguda and vice versa was heavily affected as huge rocks and mud slides from the mountain blocked road following the landslide.

Hundreds of vehicle including passenger buses and cars with several people remained stranded on both the sides of the road or the spot where the landslide occurred. Currently, they are in a state of panic and fear as such possible landslide cannot be ruled out because rain continue to lash the area.

On being informed, the local firefighters along with a Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team and police personnel reached the spot and are carrying out the restoration works with the help of the local residents with the aim to clear the road at the earlier possible time so that the stranded vehicles can resume their journey.

However, the restoration works at the Kalinga Ghat, which is the lifeline of the south Odisha, is reportedly getting affected by incessant heavy rains in the area.

It is to be noted here that the road passing through the Kalinga Ghat is the only road that is connecting the western Odisha with the eastern Odisha.

Earlier on June 18, a landslide had occurred on the Ghat following heavy rainfall. Due to this, two JCB machines engaged in road widening project fell off the hill. Fortunately, no casualty was reported.