Kalinga Ghat road sealed due to Cyclone 'Montha' induced heavy rainfall

The Kalinga Ghat road has been completely sealed by the administration following heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone 'Montha', which has raised concerns of possible landslides. 

Acting on the instructions of the Ganjam District Collector, the Bhanjanagar police and local administration reportedly reached Durgaprasad and barricaded the route, closing it to all traffic.

Additionally, the ongoing repair and construction work along the ghat has been suspended. Public entry and vehicle movement towards the upper stretch of the ghat have been strictly prohibited until further notice.

"We have been experiencing rainfall in the Kalinga Ghat area for the last 40 days. Now, we are concerned due to Cyclone 'Montha'. Torrential rains triggered a landslide, and the road in the ghat was washed away 40 days ago. The daily lives of the residents in the area have been severely affected since then. Now, another cyclone is approaching. If it triggers another landslide, the road repair work will take around one or one and a half years. The livelihood of many people in the area depends on the road, and it is likely to be severely affected," said a local resident.

Also Read: Kalinga Ghat road washed away again after cloudburst, connectivity disrupted in Kandhamal

"The Kalinga Ghat road repair work was in progress. However, it was halted yesterday due to the impending cyclone. After the instruction from the Collector, the police have barricaded the route to prevent damage. We are scared of the cyclone. We watched the landslide some days back. Our livelihood has been affected by it. Now, the cyclone may make things worse," rued another local resident.