Kalinga ghat landslide: 20 days on, repair work of National Highway yet to be completed

It has been over 20 days since a massive landslide struck the Kalinga Ghati stretch at the Kandhamal-Ganjam border, causing severe damage to the National Highway. Despite continuous efforts by the highway authorities, the repair work is still incomplete, raising concerns among commuters and local residents.

Officials had been carrying out repair work on one section of the road built on a wartime foundation.

However, heavy rainfall over the past few days has worsened the condition of the middle section of the highway, creating new hazards. Visuals from the site show water gushing down the hillside in strong torrents, posing a risk to both workers and travellers.

Workers engaged in the repair project reportedly abandoned the site as the rainwater cascaded with force from the hilltop, making it unsafe to continue work. Local authorities and the highway department have appealed for caution and urged the public to avoid the area until the repairs are completed.

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Residents in the nearby villages have expressed frustration over the delay, highlighting that the Kalinga Ghati stretch is a critical link connecting Kandhamal with Ganjam. With monsoon rains still expected in the coming weeks, officials fear further damage unless immediate preventive measures and accelerated repair work are undertaken.

The National Highway Authority is closely monitoring the situation and has assured that all necessary resources, including manpower and machinery, will be deployed to complete the repair work as soon as possible.