Udayagiri (Kandhamal): A massive landslide at Kalinga Ghat in Kandhamal district on Tuesday brought vehicular movement to a standstill on the crucial Vijayawada–Ranchi National Highway (NH-167), leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. The incident occurred around 3 PM near Andharkot following continuous rainfall in the region.
The landslide, which damaged nearly 20 to 30 meters of the highway, saw huge boulders and mounds of soil sliding down from the hills, completely blocking the narrow stretch. Hundreds of buses, trucks, and cars are stuck on both sides of the road, with anxious passengers waiting for authorities to clear the route.
The highway serves as a lifeline for several districts in Odisha, including Kandhamal, Boudh, Subarnapur, Balangir, Bargarh, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, and Malkangiri. The road closure has also disrupted connectivity with neighboring states Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
A contractor engaged by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been working on widening this stretch of the highway for months. The ongoing work, combined with incessant rainfall, is believed to have contributed to the collapse.
Police and fire services rushed to the site soon after the incident was reported. While no casualties or property damage have been recorded, officials said clearing operations will take time due to the volume of debris and the risk of further landslides. The disruption has cut off road links between Ganjam district, Kandhamal, and several cities in western Odisha.
This year, similar landslides triggered by heavy rains in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have caused widespread destruction, and experts warn that Odisha may increasingly face such calamities as extreme weather patterns intensify.
