A fresh landslide early Monday morning at Mannagundi, Koukradi in Kokkada village, Kadaba Taluk, has completely blocked National Highway 75, disrupting traffic between Mangaluru and Bengaluru. The incident occurred around 4 am, as soil and debris tumbled onto the road, bringing vehicles to a standstill.
Emergency clearance operations were launched immediately, and authorities have diverted traffic to alternate routes. Still, hundreds of vehicles, including intercity buses, remain stranded on both sides of the highway. Police from Nelyadi and other officials have reached the site to assess the situation.
This is the second landslide in ten days at the same location. A similar incident earlier had led to a three-hour shutdown. With the monsoon in full swing, repeated landslides have triggered frequent disruptions, raising concerns about road safety and infrastructure stability.
Travellers and locals have expressed growing anger and frustration over what they call administrative apathy. Despite several such incidents, no permanent preventive measures have been taken to secure this vulnerable stretch of the highway. Citizens are demanding urgent geotechnical assessment and stabilization work before the situation worsens.
As rains continue, the fear of further landslides looms large, highlighting the need for swift, long-term action to protect this critical link between Karnataka’s coastal and capital regions.