Kalinga Ghat Stretch of NH-157 Closed Till September 30 Following Major Landslides
Kandhamal, Sept 23 : A major landslide struck the Kalinga Ghat section of National Highway 157 part of the Vijayawada-Ranchi corridor passing through Odisha’s Kandhamal district on September 16, causing severe damage and total disruption of vehicular traffic. Triggered by continuous heavy rainfall, the landslide washed away a significant portion of the highway, leaving behind a large gap and rendering the area unsafe and inaccessible.
In a swift response, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) began constructing a temporary road to restore connectivity. However, efforts were hindered when a second landslide occurred yesterday afternoon at the same site. This fresh landslide dislodged several massive boulders that had remained unstable since the first incident, further damaging the under-construction temporary road and worsening the situation.
Currently, only a narrow passage is partially open, but authorities have deemed it highly unsafe. With additional rainfall forecast due to an active low-pressure system, the district administration has taken the precautionary step of completely closing the Kalinga Ghat stretch to all vehicular traffic until September 30.
To address the looming threat of more landslides, especially from large boulders still precariously positioned on the hillside, two expert teams from Bhanjanagar and Sonepur are being deployed. These specialists will assess the situation and provide guidance on the safe removal of the rocks and stabilization of the area.
District Collector’s office confirmed that safety remains the top priority. Until full-scale restoration work is completed and the highway is deemed safe, no traffic will be allowed on the affected route. Travelers have been advised to take alternate routes and follow official advisories to avoid the region.
