Heavy rain triggers landslips in Ooty, surrounding areas

UDHAGAMANDALAM: Heavy downpour in Ooty and surrounding areas over the last few days has led to landslips on roads.
A major landslip was reported on the Yellanhalli-Ketti Road, while another one was reported at Gandhinagar in Lovedale near Ooty. A few landslips were reported along the Kotagiri-Kilkotagiri Road and several other places.
With the southwest monsoon yet to set in in the Nilgiris, the landslips have evoked fear among locals as Gandhinagar suffered a huge deluge in 2009.
Locals and activists are of the opinion that the highways department should be mindful of vulnerable locations when carrying out road works.
"The highways department should erect revetments at required points to arrest landslips instead of simply cutting the edges of roads in the name of development. Their action weakens hillocks," said L Murthy, a resident.
The district administration and state highways authorities should take steps to construct a retaining wall along the slopes in Gandhi Nagar to arrest further landslips as some houses are situated at the edge of the slope, said K Raja, another resident.
S Kuzhandai Raju, divisional engineer, state highways, told TOI, "As far as the Yellanhalli-Ketti Road is concerned, we will hold an inspection and repair it. We will also propose a retaining wall at vulnerable points on roads in Gandhinagar and seek government sanction".