Operation of private and State transport corporation buses, and commercial heavy vehicles remained suspended for the fifth day on Bodi-Munnar Highway on Sunday as torrential showers disrupted clearing of debris caused by landslip.
Another minor landslip at the ninth bend on the Ghat Road near Puliuthu blocked the road.
Heaps of soil fell on the road making it slushy and muddy. The highways officials had cleared rubble to facilitate movement of light vehicles transporting essential goods from Theni.
All heavy vehicles were entering Kerala only through Cumbum Mettu Road. Even as the Highways officials had planned to open the road for traffic on Saturday, heavy rain disrupted clearing work, and another landslip worsened the situation. It would take a day or two to operate buses on this route, the officials said.
The work was stopped for sometime on Sunday morning owing to heavy downpour. Breaking of big boulders would resume only when the rain stopped, they added.
Continuous rain paralysed routine life in many parts of Theni district and affected paddy harvesting in double-cropping area of the Cumbum valley.
