Madikeri: A huge crack has appeared on NH 275 connecting Mangaluru with Madikeri near Katakeri on Thursday, July 4.

Apparently, a few days ago a small split was seen on the road at the same spot which on Thursday into a huge one with the surrounding soil caving in because of the crack.

It may be noted that the highway had suffered major damage last year due to the torrential rains. As an immediate precautionary measure, sand bags were kept on the affected area to prevent further damage and collapse of soil.

The DC ad imposed a ban on the movement of goods vehicles on the road from June till August 8. However, the rule exempted the movement of school and college buses, LPG transportation tankers, fuel tankers, light vehicles and milk container vehicles. But if the present situation worsens, the ban may be extended to the exempted vehicles as well.

The affected location was visited by Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani, zilla panchayat president B A Harish, MLAs K G Bopaiah and Appachu Ranjan along with the concerned officials on Friday morning.

Presently as a precautionary measure, barricades have been erected near the junction at Katakeri and the movement of vehicles is restricted to only one side of the road in the affected stretch of the road. The concerned engineers of the department have been asked by the administration and the MLAs to monitor the road and ensure safety.

If in case the highway caves in further, then the people travelling to Mangaluru will face an uphill task since the routes of Mysuru-Kushalnagar-Somwarpet-Sakleshpur or Mysuru-Hunasur-Gonikoppa-Virajpet-Kerala-Sullia will become inaccessible.