Mangaluru : Police have banned vehicles carrying heavy loads while rest including buses are allowed. About 40 meters of the portion of the embankment is damaged in Agumbe Ghat on Thursday .

According to officials of National Highways Authority of India, the massive landslide has taken place during wee hours of Thursday. It happened due to an accident. A Canter vehicle hit the retaining (guard) wall of the ghat and damaged it. The Ghat section is 9kms in length and has 14 hairpin curves. The area around the retaining guard was further damaged after incessant rains and caused a landslide in the stretch. Around 10 metres of the retaining wall has collapsed along with foundation.

Officials added that the curve is on border of Udupi and Shivamogga district. After damage, vehicular movement in stretch was restricted to only buses and other light vehicles. However, no commercial vehicles laden with goods will be allowed on the stretch which may cause further damage to the road. The heavy vehicles can be moved via SK Border, Charmadi Ghat or through Sampaje Ghat.

Udupi Deputy Commissioner has directed the RTO, Police and NH officials to ban movement of buses at night on that stretch till it is repaired.

When asked whether repair works will be taken up immediately, officials said that it is not possible as there are heavy rains lashing the stretch.