Keonjhar: Twin landslides in Kanjipani Ghat and Judia Ghat on national highway-49, which passes through Keonjhar district, disrupted traffic in the past two days. Consequently, vehicles are plying on one side of the four-lane NH-49, connecting Kolkata and Mumbai, local residents say.National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started removing stones and soil from the road. As there is a risk of more landslides due to the ongoing rain, the administration has taken precautions and closed one side of the road and kept a watchful eye.Project director of NHAI, Keonjhar, Karthik Reddy, along with other officials, is present at the spot and monitoring the situation.According to the sources, the road at Kanjipani Ghat was closed on one side due to a landslide on Aug 14 night. After the NHAI cleared the soil from the road, traffic on both sides became normal around 8 pm on Aug 15. Due to heavy rain and landslides at about seven places on the Judia Ghat of NH-49, the administration closed one side of the road, said an officer. “Big stones from the hill repeatedly fell on the road, causing problems for the employees engaged in cleaning the road. The work is being delayed due to heavy rain. The traffic is expected to be normal by 9 pm today (Sunday),” said an NHAI official.Residents alleged that due to a lack of proper management, despite the installation of wire mesh and guard walls on the side of hills along the Judia Ghat, landslides are continuing.
