Goa road link with Karnataka blocked due to landslide

Panaji, July 3: Goa has been hit by heavy rains and this triggered a major landslide on National Highway-17 disrupting traffic between Goa and Karnataka.

The traffic on the NH was diverted as Margao-Karwar route was blocked at Bali at Anmod Ghat that links the two states. Officials said that mud and boulders fell on the road in the ghat section. This route is used by several hundred vehicles everyday carrying essential commodities.

The spot is about six kilometres away from the Goa check post. A thick layer of mud of nearly 10ft deep is lying on the road along with huge boulders.

"The incident occurred at 2 am, as heavy rains lashed the Anmod Ghat section along with Goa last night. The road, which serves as a link between Goa and Karnataka, has been disconnected," a district administration official in Goa informed.

South Goa District Collector N D Agarwal, along with the disaster management team, has reached the spot to initiate the task of clearing the road.

Meanwhile, normal life was thrown out of gear as Goa received about 8 inches of rain since Monday. The worst affected areas were Sanvorcotta and Bhivsa.

Several trees were uprooted while some came down on houses damaging property. Water level of Bicholim and Valvanti rivers has risen posing danger to residents living in low-lying areas.

With agencies inputs