Landslide cuts off road in Malkangiri’s Bonda Ghati after heavy rain, villages cut off

Continuous rainfall in Malkangiri district triggered a landslide that washed away portions of the Mangarjhola road in Bonda Ghati, severely disrupting connectivity in the region.

As of Monday evening, large amounts of soil slipped from the hillside, leaving the road completely caved in and unsafe for travel. As a result, the four-wheeler movement between Khairaput and Bonda Ghati has been suspended.

Local officials, including the Block Development Officer and Tehsildar, rushed to the spot to assess the damage.

Bonda Ghati encompasses two panchayats with as many as 32 villages. It now faces a heightened risk of isolation if the road is not repaired promptly. Officials said restoration work will be crucial in the coming days to prevent a worsening of the situation.

Rainfall Impact Across Odisha

The landslide comes amid heavy rainfall activity across Odisha under the influence of a fresh low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds through September 28, warning that southern and western districts are likely to bear the brunt.

On Tuesday, the IMD placed Sundargarh and Sambalpur under an Orange warning, cautioning of heavy to very heavy rain. Eleven other districts, including Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi, were issued yellow alerts for potential thunderstorms and intense showers. The IMD also flagged the possibility of winds reaching 30–40 kmph during the downpour.

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Further Alerts For Southern Odisha

The weather office has predicted that a fresh low-pressure system may intensify into a depression off the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast in the coming days.

Forecasts indicate that Koraput and Malkangiri could experience particularly heavy rainfall on September 25, with an Orange Warning issued for both districts.