Fresh Landslides Triggered By Heavy Rain Cut Off Road Links In Odisha After Cyclone Montha, Rockfall Damages Temple

Bhubaneswar: Fresh landslides occurred in several hilly areas of southern Odisha due to heavy rain triggered by cyclone Montha, disrupting road connectivity and causing extensive damage to property.

Officials said on Thursday that fresh landslides were reported in several districts, including Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal under the impact of incessant rain.

In Gajapati, a major landslide occurred along the Shankuda-Khiliganda ghat road under Raigada block on Thursday morning, snapping road connectivity to Bonda and Khilingi villages under S Kardasingh panchayat. A stretch of the road is reported to have been buried under the debris.

Landslide also disrupted road communication to four villages along the ghat road near Balibada village under Mohana block of Gajapati on Thursday. Loose portions of hills collapsed and fell on the road, disrupting movement in the affected areas

After receiving information, officials visited the site and launched an operation to clear the debris. A similar landslide had taken place on the same stretch on Tuesday. As a precautionary measure, residents taking shelter in relief camps have been advised not to return home until the roads are fully restored for normal traffic.

A report from Ganjam district said that a landslide took place near Raipat late on Tuesday night, blocking Tadaka Sahi-Ankuli road and disrupting connectivity to more than 20 villages.

Following the landslide, the Chariabada ghat was also blocked. While obstructions at Chariabada have already been removed, restoration work is still underway on the Raipat road stretch which is likely to be reopened for traffic soon.

Another landslide took place at Khariguda ghat in Ranaba panchayat in Kandhamal’s Raikia block on Wednesday. Large rocks fell on the front door of a house, whose occupants had a narrow escape.

In another incident in Ganjam, a large rock collapsed and damaged parts of a temple on Thursday following incessant rain. Devotees and priests present at the site escaped unhurt after the mishap.

Locals said the incident took place at the Upara Byaghra Devi Temple in Kulada under Bhanjanagar block of Ganjam. The massive rock that rolled down from above the temple damaged the boundary wall of the Lord Hanuman temple situated below. Cracks have also developed on the main temple walls due to the impact.

Meanwhile, the water level of Bansadhara river, which flows through Kasinagar, remained below the danger mark. Against the danger level of 54.60 m, the river was flowing at 53.98 m on Wednesday morning. However, the overflowing Gumma canal led to waterlogging in Khinga and Bada Khinga villages under Ranipentha panchayat.

Altogether 5,925 skilled personnel have been deployed round the clock across Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and Boudh districts.