Traffic resumes on Munnar-Devikulam route

The Munnar-Devikulam stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway in Munnar reopened for traffic on Wednesday morning.

The Public Works department’s National Highway (NH) wing on Tuesday completed debris-clearing work on the site at Munnar, where two major landslips occurred recently. Officials said traffic resumed on the road around 11.30 a.m.

Sources said the district geologist would submit a report to the district administration and the NH wing regarding soil condition in the area. The district geologist had inspected the area on Monday. Sources said soil absorbed water during rain and fell onto the road stretch in the area.

“If heavy rainfall occurs in the area, there is a chance that more landslips will occur. The report of the geologist will include practical recommendations on how to resolve the issue permanently,” the sources said.

The sources said earlier the authorities had sought the opinion of former Idukki district geologist to set up a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences court near the old Government Arts College at Munnar, where landslips had occurred in the 2018 floods. But the plan was dropped after the geologist warned of chances of landslips in the area.

Officials said the NH wing was planning to impose travel ban on the Munnar-Devikulam stretch when the authorities issued red and orange alerts in the district. “There are chances of more landslips in the area. The NH wing will take steps based on the report by the district geologist,” said an official.

Two major landslides occurred near the old Government Arts College in Munnar on July 26 and 27. The first landslip around 10 p.m. on Saturday, trapped a lorry under the debris killing the driver. The second landslip on Sunday morning caused major damage in the area.