Berhampur: While National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has begun repair work on NH-157 after a massive landslide struck Kalinga Ghat in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, officials estimate that clearing the debris will take at least two days.
The massive landslide took place at Andharkote in Kalinga Ghat in G Udayagiri block on Tuesday afternoon as boulders and heaps of mud came crashing onto the road, damaging around 25 metres of the National Highway. A water stream also emerged along the slope.
The damage to a depth of 10–12 metre, with the culvert, approach road and supporting wall severely affected, completely cut off Kandhamal from southern and western Odisha districts. The highway serves as a lifeline for several districts including Kandhamal, Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir, Bargarh, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri.
“We will make arrangements for the passage of water by temporarily laying a pipeline. Clearing the road and restoring traffic movement is our immediate priority,” chief construction engineer of NHAI Bankim Chandra Panda told TNIE.
Prashant Kumar Sahu, NHAI Sub-Divisional Officer, added that plans are underway to construct permanent retaining and guard walls to secure the vulnerable stretch.