Landslides galore hit road, rail traffic, rivers turn serious hazards

Landslides galore hit road, rail traffic, rivers turn serious hazards

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, August 15, 2018: Heavy rain continued in Dakshina Kannada, resulting in the Nethravati crossing the danger level at Bantwal and Uppinangady on August 14,  Tuesday. Traffic from Mangaluru to Bengaluru and Mysuru was disrupted following landslips near Udane on Mangaluru–Bengaluru national highway and near Sampaje on Sampaje Ghat.

Landslides brought miseries at many places in the state on August 14,  Tuesday.  Heavy downpour, accompanied by high-intensity winds, uprooted several trees in the city , resulting in multiple landslides. 

Road and rail traffic, especially between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, have been affected as a result. Rail services had to be suspended due to landslips at various places on the Sakleshpur-Subramanya stretch. Passengers of two KSRTC buses had a close shave as soil caved in on the buses near Maranahalli. Passengers had a lucky escape as a few uprooted trees had fallen on the edge of cliff, which prevented the buses from rolling into the gorges. As rumours spread that the buses had fallen into the ditch, five ambulances were pressed into service to help those affected.

Vehicular traffic on the Shiradi Ghat came to a standstill due to multiple landslides on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway. Boulder and landslips were reported from three places.

A huge boulder and soil caved in on the railway track between Subramanya and Sakleshpur. The railway personnel are clearing the debris. Rail traffic has been suspended for two more days or till further notice.

Following heavy rains and landslides on the Thirthahalli-Kundapura Road, vehicular movement was suspended on the Agumbe Ghat road that connects Shivamogga with Udupi district.A team of the National Disaster Response Force is expected in the city on Wednesday.

According to the office of the DK DC, water level in the Netravati at Bantwal touched 8.8 m as against the danger level of 8.5 m. The level at Uppinangady touched 29.6 m as against the danger level of 26.5 m. Water level in the Kumaradhara at Uppinangady stood at 25 m as against the danger level of 26.5 m.

DK DC Sasikanth Senthil S. told reporters that except the Phalguni, four other main rivers in the district — the Kumaradhara, Nethravati, Shambhavi, and Nandini — were in spate on Tuesday.

Though the situation was not alarming, Mr. Senthil said the district administration had taken steps to shift residents of low-lying areas to safer places. “Many of them are shifting, while a few are still waiting. We request residents to hear officials and move to houses of relatives or to the rehabilitation centres set up by the district administration for another three days.” He asked people to desist from swimming in streams and visiting the place of confluence of the Kumaradhara and Nethravati at Uppinangady.

Meanwhile, landslips continued near Maranahalli in Sakaleshpur taluk of Hassan district on Shiradi Ghat, resulting in several vehicles getting stranded on the highway. Many commuters were stranded on the either sides of the landslip sites that does not have any mobile phone network. Motorists coming to Mangaluru and those going to Benglauru used the Charmadi Ghat. The movement of vehicles to Madikeri and Mysuru continued to be affected following landslips in Kodagu district.

In a press release, Superintendent of Police B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda advised motorists to avoid Shiradi Ghat and Charmadi Ghat for the next few days as there were chances of further landslips on the ghat sections.

The KSRTC cancelled all premium bus services to and from the district, while running the express buses through Charmadi.

DC  Senthil said block education officers and tahsildars had been empowered to take decision on declaring holiday to schools in their areas. Parents, he said, need not send their children to school if they have problem.

The DK DC  said the district so far has received an average 3,564 mm rainfall since January which was 128% more than the the normal of 2,779.9 mm. While the district administration was well prepared to face any situation, Mr. Senthil said a team of the National Disaster Response Force was coming to the city on Wednesday to provide assistance in tackling the situation.