Landslide makes CM change route

The landslide at Shiradi Ghat stretch of National Highway 75, caused by heavy rains, forced Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to take an alternative route to reach Dharmasthala on Monday afternoon.

Landslides were reported on the highway near Dodda Thappale village around 1 p.m. A stretch of about 100 metres has been covered by mud, forcing people on the road to stop. Hundreds of vehicles were stuck in the ghat amidst heavy rains. The CM was scheduled to travel to Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district via Shiradi Ghat after visiting temples in Holenarasipur taluk. As the road was blocked owing to the landslide, the CM took teh Mudigere route to reach Dharmasthala via Charmadi Ghat.

G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Assistant Commissioner of Sakleshpur sub-division, told

The Hindu, “The vehicular movement on the road has been hit badly. Many are taking the alternative route via Mudigere, while some are waiting for the restoration work to complete. The officers are on the job to clear the road,” he said.

As many as four earth movers have been engaged for the restoration work. The road was not cleared till late in the evening. Parts of Sakleshpur have been receiving heavy rains for past few days. The taluk received an average rainfall of 97.9 mm on Sunday. The highest of 165.5 mm was recorded at Vanagur.