Vehicular Traffic Disrupted Between Mangaluru and Bengaluru; Homes Evacuated, Coffee Plantations Damaged Amid Worsening Landslide Threats in Sakleshpur-Hassan Region
Bengaluru: A massive landslide scare has resurfaced near Heggadde village in the Shiradi Ghat Maranahalli region of Sakleshpur-Hassan, barely 20 days after a minor slide was first reported. The recent spell of torrential rainfall has triggered another collapse, causing soil and trees to fall step by step from a steep hillside, spreading panic among locals and affecting key transport routes.
A significant volume of soil came crashing down on the highway stretch late Monday night, but a major tragedy was narrowly avoided, as vehicles were passing on the alternate lane at the time of the collapse.
“The soil from the hill is sliding continuously for almost a hundred meters. The situation is worsening with each bout of rainfall,” said a local eyewitness.
The home of a resident named Yashasvi, located close to the base of the hill, has been completely cut off by the debris, forcing him and his family to evacuate and flee the village. Residents fear the situation could escalate as a mobile tower atop the hill now stands dangerously close to the edge of the landslide zone.
In another nearby area near Doddathappu, huge volumes of soil and trees have fallen onto the road, severely damaging a coffee plantation. The continuous descent of earth is destroying property and raising serious concerns among plantation owners and locals alike.
The ongoing landslides have disrupted vehicular movement along the crucial Mangaluru-Bengaluru highway, cutting off one of the state's most vital economic corridors. Shiradi Ghat, a lifeline for trade and travel between the coast and the state capital, is now grappling with instability that could worsen if rains continue.
“With Shiradi Ghat becoming increasingly unpredictable during monsoons, it’s high time the government implements permanent slope stabilization measures,” said an environmental activist monitoring the region.
Officials from the district disaster management team and PWD are on high alert, with heavy machinery and rescue units stationed nearby. However, the frequency and intensity of soil movements have made immediate restoration efforts risky.
Authorities have urged travellers to avoid the Shiradi Ghat stretch until further notice and suggested alternate routes be used for travel between Mangaluru and Bengaluru.
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