The Kalinga Ghati road linking Ganjam and Kandhamal has been closed indefinitely after heavy rain triggered landslides and rockfalls, as Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi surveyed flood-affected areas in the state’s southern districts on Sunday.
Majhi conducted an aerial survey of Ganjam, Koraput and Nabarangpur to assess damage and review relief and rescue operations. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari and Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil accompanied him during the helicopter-based assessment.
The administration has barred vehicles from using the vulnerable Kalinga Ghati stretch after two landslide incidents brought large rocks and boulders onto the road. Parts of the hillside and road have also been damaged. Officials have warned that the area remains vulnerable to further landslides, and traffic will remain suspended until the route is cleared and safety measures are completed.
The road is a key link between Ganjam and Kandhamal. Its closure affects movement through a hilly corridor already exposed to disruption during periods of intense rainfall. The administration has not announced a date for reopening the road.
Majhi travelled from Bhubaneswar towards Kalinga Ghati before continuing to the southern districts. The survey also covered Malkangiri and other affected areas, along with key road links disrupted by flooding, waterlogging and slope damage.
In Koraput, the Chief Minister visited Chandili High School, where people affected by the heavy rain met him and raised their concerns. He asked about the availability of essential services and relief, and held discussions with local representatives and administrative officials.
The Chief Minister directed officials to accelerate relief and assistance operations. District administrations and concerned departments have been instructed to prioritise relief distribution, rescue work, drinking water supply and health services in vulnerable areas.
The latest spell of heavy rain was associated with a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal and caused flooding and waterlogging in several parts of Odisha, particularly in the southern districts. The state government has increased evacuation, relief and rescue operations in vulnerable locations. The Kalinga Ghati road is expected to remain closed until clearance work and safety assessments are completed.
