BELAGAVI
Incessant rains in the Western Ghats region trigged landslides in the Anmod Ghat on Monday, paralysing traffic for several hours between Belagavi and Goa via the Anmod Ghat.
According to police, the first landslide occurred at around 9 am towards the Goa border near the Dudhsagar temple, about 9 kms from Molem check post.
Another landslide was reported later in the afternoon while the first landslide site was being cleared, sources said. The landslide was so heavy that large trees from the mountain were uprooted in the process and a long stretch of the road was blocked since morning.
Goa police along with the fire personnel rushed to the spot. The road was being cleared till late afternoon while the traffic on the route has come to a standstill.
Meanwhile, few vehicles which entered the ghat from Karnataka side were left stranded and getting the news of the landslide, Goa and Karnataka police had stopped further traffic at Molem and Anmod respectively. Police said the landslide would be cleared in the evening and stranded vehicles would be allowed to move forward.
Meanwhile, another minor landslide was reported in the same section and traffic to Goa via Anmod is likely to be diverted to avoid any landslide likely to occur in the night, police said.
The rubble was cleared at around 5 pm and the ghat section was thrown open for traffic. However, authorities have warned of the repeat of landslide amid heavy rains urging travellers to remain alert.
