Karnataka rains: Traffic banned on Agumbe Ghat till July 12

UDUPI: The Udupi district administration has banned movement of traffic on National Highway 169A, connecting Udupi with Thirthahalli in Shivamogga district, till July 12, 8am.
This order follows after a hillock collapsed on the road, uprooting a huge tree and many small trees, at the 11th curve on the Agumbe Ghat blocking the NH stretch.
The Ghat connects Shivamogga to the coastal cities of Mangaluru, Udupi, Karkala, Moodbidri and Manipal. The section where the tree fall has occurred comes within the ambit of Udupi district limits.
The order stated that more than 20 trees had uprooted and fallen after the hillock caved in on the road. Since the restoration work was progressing slowly due to the downpour, all vehicle movement has been banned till July 12, 8am. Thereafter, light motor vehicles would be allowed to ply till July 30, in which period road restoration and hill stabilisation works would be taken up.
The traffic on this route has been rerouted via Kolhapur- Mangaluru NH 169. Till the road is restored, vehicles have been directed to use Thirthahalli - Koppa- Sringeri - Karkala - Mangaluru or Thirthahalli - Agumbe- Sringeri - Karkala - Mangaluru routes.