Landslips at four places between PL Shed and Vada Kavunji pass, roughly 40 km away from Palani town, brought down big boulders resulting in the closure of the Palani-Kodaikanal Ghat Road connecting the temple town and Kodaikanal hill on Sunday. The road would be closed for at least the next two days to clear the debris.
Vehicles proceeding to Kodaikanal from Palani were diverted through the Batlagundu-Kodaikanal Ghat Road. Tourists going to Palani from Kodaikanal and farmers in the lower Kodaikanal hills were stranded.
Torrential showers in the lower Palani hills on Saturday night led to rocks and soil coming down on the road at PL Shed, Koombur, Jeeva Nagar and Vada Kavunji Pass. The road was damaged at several points. State Highways officials have started clearing the road, but removal of boulders is a daunting task. Electric posts and old trees were uprooted. Detonators may be used to break big rocks, an official said. The arrival of tourists for Onam will be hampered, officials said.
