Landslide Swallows Sakleshpur Road, Worsening Bengaluru-Mangaluru Highway Crisis

A devastating landslide near Harle estate in Sakleshpur, Hassan district of Karnataka, has caused widespread disruption to the road network, affecting several villages in the taluk. The incident occurred on the night of July 29, sweeping away a portion of the road that serves as an alternative to the Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway. The landslide has added to the woes of commuters who have already been grappling with frequent landslips and flooding on the highway.

The recent landslip is not an isolated incident. The Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway has seen multiple landslips in recent weeks, causing chaos and disrupting the movement of vehicles and goods. The highway, which is a crucial artery connecting two major cities, has become a hotspot for landslides and flooding due to heavy rainfall and erosion.

In a separate incident, a major landslide has struck Shiradi Ghat near Doddathople in Sakleshpur, causing severe disruptions on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway.

Heavy rains across the state have led to landslides in several hilly areas. Traffic on National Highway 75 at Shiradi Ghat has been completely halted. The landslide near Ettinahalli in Sakleshpur taluk has resulted in a long queue of vehicles stretching for kilometers.

Today, a hill collapsed onto a car, lorry, and gas tanker traveling on the Shiradi Ghat section of National Highway 75. As a result, vehicle movement in Shiradi Ghat has been suspended, leading to a roadblock with vehicles stuck for hours.

Officials have arrived at the scene and are working to clear the debris. Traffic is expected to be disrupted for about six hours. Additionally, a landslide on the Puttur-Sampaje road has also led to a three-hour traffic halt while clearance operations are underway.

The recent landslip near Harle estate has left many villagers stranded, with several areas cut off from the main road network.

Earlier, on July 26, heavy rainfall caused flooding in many areas of Sakleshpur taluk, including Azad Nagar locality in Sakleshpur town. The Hemavathi river was swollen, submerging two-wheelers and causing traffic congestion. Furthermore, a bridge on the road between Sakleshpur town and Krishnapur village was flooded, disrupting vehicle movement.

The Karnataka State Highway Patrol has been working tirelessly to clear the debris and restore connectivity to affected areas. However, the frequency of landslips and flooding on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru highway has raised concerns about the safety and maintenance of the road.