Panakkad landslip: traffic reopening put off to Friday amid rain alert
Authorities in Malappuram have delayed the reopening of a road following a landslip due to an ongoing orange alert for heavy rain. While the road has been cleared of debris, experts warn that continued rainfall could destabilize the slope further.
Why it matters
Effective disaster management and infrastructure safety are vital in regions prone to extreme weather events and landslides.
The district administration on Thursday deferred a decision on reopening the Vengara-Malappuram road until Friday due to the orange alert issued for the district.
The road was closed after a landslip at Edayippalam near Panakkad on Monday. An expert committee comprising officials from Geology, Soil Conservation, Motor Vehicles, Police, Local Self-Government, Fire and Rescue Services, Public Works and Disaster Management departments, along with a hazard analyst, inspected the site on Thursday.
Officials said the road was cleared and was motorable. However, experts warned that the slope could become unstable if heavy rain continued as the waterlogged soil might lose strength.
The site of the landslip from top of the hill. | Photo Credit: SAKEER HUSSAIN
A section of the hill collapsed on Monday, sending mud, trees, and boulders onto the road and into the Kadalundipuzha river. Several people, including journalists covering the incident, had a narrow escape.
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