Boulders crash onto Indrakeeladri Ghat Road in Vijayawada after two days of rain
Heavy rains in Vijayawada caused boulders and debris to slide onto the Indrakeeladri Ghat Road. Local authorities successfully averted casualties by closing the road for repairs prior to the incident and are now working to stabilize the hillside.
Why it matters
The event underscores the risks posed by extreme weather to infrastructure and the importance of proactive safety measures in pilgrimage sites.
Large boulders, rocks and soil slid down the slopes of Indrakeeladri onto the Ghat Road on Thursday (September 24, 2026) night after two days of heavy rain in Vijayawada. A major mishap was averted because the road had already been closed for the past three days for repair work ahead of the Dasara Sharannavaratri festivities.
District Collector G. Lakshmisha inspected the affected stretch on Friday morning along with Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam Executive Officer V.K. Seena Naik and engineering officials.
The Collector directed engineering officials to remove the boulders, rocks and debris from the road using excavators and cranes on a war footing.
He asked technical experts to thoroughly examine the hill to identify any other stretches vulnerable to rockfalls or further movement, because rainwater seepage had weakened the soil. Loose and potentially dangerous rocks should be identified and removed in a controlled manner, he said.
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