The relentless monsoon rains in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have triggered hill collapses across all ghat sections linking these districts to the rest of Karnataka. This has raised concerns about potential isolation and shortages of fruits and vegetables, as supplies primarily come from Bengaluru and other regions.
A significant landslide in the Sakleshpur stretch of Shiradi Ghat has led to vehicular traffic being prohibited, with barricades set up at Mani. A large crack has emerged at Kartoji near Madenadu on the Mani-Mysuru national highway, prompting Kodagu’s Deputy Commissioner to order a four-day traffic ban starting at 8 PM on Thursday, July 18, due to fears of another hill collapse.
The Mangaluru-Goa highway at Shiroor of Ankola remains blocked due to an uncleared hill collapse on Tuesday, causing major disruptions in traffic.
Currently, only Charmadi Ghat, Nagodi Ghat Road, and Mala Ghat are passable. While hill collapses have occurred in parts of Hulikal Ghat, it remains open to vehicles. However, the closure of other ghats has significantly increased traffic on Hulikal Ghat, heightening the risk of further collapses and traffic stoppages. Bisile Ghat remains challenging for vehicular movement due to its narrow roads.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking measures to ensure safety and restore connectivity as swiftly as possible.