TIRUPATI: Vehicular movement along the Tirupati-Tirumala ghat road has grinded to a halt following a massive landslide that occurred near the link road on the second ghat road of Tirumala early on Wednesday morning.
Huge boulders and mounds of soil along with uprooted trees blocked the road, leaving vehicles stuck on the ghat road. Traffic movement has come to a halt for an indefinite period. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
The TTD has diverted vehicular traffic onto the first ghat road. Vehicular movement to both sides will be through the first ghat road until the second ghat is restored. TTD’s engineering wing swung into action and launched restoration works. Earth movers were pressed into service and trucks were deployed to clear the debris.
“Owing to incessant rains last month, soil loosened at different points on the second ghat road. There was no immediate threat, but we have taken up restoration works on the second ghat. However, a massive landslide occurred again in the early hours of Wednesday, bringing huge boulders and trees crashing onto the ghat road. Keeping in view the safety of devotees, we closed down the second ghat and restoration works are underway”, a senior official said.
Due to unprecedented rains that lashed Tirumala hills a fortnight ago, landslides occurred and huge boulders had fallen at different points in both the first and the second ghats on November 18. After strenuous efforts, TTD has cleared the rocks, which fell on the first ghat road, and resumed traffic in the same ghat on November 19. A couple of days later, the second ghat also opened for traffic.
