12 villages cut-off due to landslide in Odisha

Landslide in Odisha, triggered by heavy downpour, has cut-off about a dozen villages on the Bonda hills in Malkangiri from the district headquarters for the last four days, district officials said.
Communication to the hills has been snapped since Monday as the only road between Andhrahal and Mudulipada was blocked by mud and huge boulders that slipped down due to the landslide, they said.
"Vehicular movement is not possible to the area which remains cut-off as the only connecting road has been blocked," Sub-Collector Nruparaj Sahu said.
However, the district administration has sent a team to the affected area in Andrahal gram panchayat in Khairput block, located about 7 km from here, with dry food and other essential articles, he said.

A medical team has also been sent with medicines and other items, Sahu said, adding, the tribal people in the area are safe and "there is nothing to worry."
An official of Bonda Development Agency (BDA) said no health related problems have been reported from villages in Bonda hills.

It was not possible to clear the debris immediately in view of heavy rainfall in the area, he said, adding, steps would be taken to restore normal traffic to Andrahal by clearing the debris as soon as the weather improves.
Traffic on the 12-km road between Mudulipada and Andrahal was snapped for almost a month during last monsoon as the culvert near Badbel was washed away due to heavy rains.

Locals pointed out that the district authorities have failed to construct the culvert during the last one year which led to the present situation.