Phulbani: On Tuesday, a landslide affected road communication between Ganjam and Kandhamal districts, according to officials. The significant landslide occurred at Andharkote in Kalinga Ghat within the G Udayagiri block of Kandhamal district due to continuous rainfall in the region. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. The landslide caused damage to approximately 25 meters of National Highway 157, halting traffic immediately. Numerous vehicles, including buses, became stranded as a result. Officials from the Kandhamal district administration quickly arrived to evaluate the situation. G Udayagiri Block Development Officer (BDO) Sarat Kumar Mallick stated that the damage is extensive and immediate restoration is not feasible.
He indicated that several days will be needed to repair the affected stretch, prompting traffic to be redirected through Dasapalla in Nayagarh district for travel between Berhampur and Phulbani. Antanu Sahu, superintending engineer for the NH circle in Sambalpur, mentioned, ‘We will take steps to restore communication as swiftly as possible. However, given the scale of the landslide, the restoration process may take some time, particularly due to ongoing rainfall.’ This highway is crucial for numerous districts in Odisha, including Kandhamal, Boudh, Subarnapur, Bolangir, Bargarh, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, and Malkangiri, and it also connects to neighboring Andhra Pradesh. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was involved in road-widening efforts in the area.
Kalinga Ghat is the longest ghat road in the state. In July, heavy rainfall had similarly disrupted normal life in Koraput district, causing landslides in multiple areas and impacting train services, with part of the railway track between Koraput and Jeypore being obstructed.