Heavy Rain Triggers Rockslide On Indrakeeladri; Giripradakshina Cancelled
The road had been closed for three days following an advance decision by the temple authorities: Reports
VIJAYAWADA: Heavy rainfall triggered a rockslide on the Indrakeeladri Ghat Road here on Thursday night, but no casualty was reported, as the road had already been closed for repair works ahead of the Dasara Sarannavaratri festivities.
Boulders, rocks and mud slipped onto the Ghat Road amid incessant rain over the past two days. The road had been closed for three days following an advance decision by the temple authorities.
NTR district collector Lakshmisha inspected the affected stretch on Friday along with the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam executive officer VK Seena Naik and engineers. He directed the engineering teams to remove the fallen boulders, rocks and mud by using cranes and clear the road.
The collector said the hill had become saturated due to rainwater seepage and directed the officials to conduct a technical assessment to identify other vulnerable stretches. He also directed them to identify and remove loose and potentially dangerous rocks in a controlled manner.
He ordered strengthening and restoration of the retaining wall, iron fencing and rock-fall nets at the affected location.
The collector directed the officials not to allow anyone towards the Ghat Road until safety inspections and restoration works were completed and to make alternative arrangements for devotees.
Seena Naik said the temple authorities had remained on alert due to the heavy rains. He said he had personally inspected the Ghat Road on Thursday night and alerted the engineers. The precautionary closure had “helped avert a major danger.”
Meanwhile, the temple cancelled the Indrakeeladri Giripradakshina scheduled for Saturday, September 26, on the occasion of the full moon.
The temple’s Sthanacharyas and Vaidika committee members advised the functionaries against conducting the ritual as several main roads along the route remained inundated, with floodwater and contaminated water flowing after three days of heavy rain.