The disruption left tourists returning from Valparai waiting for hours, with some reportedly facing a shortage of food and drinking water.
The road was cleared around 5pm on Wednesday, after almost 21 hours. More than 100 people have been left stranded including children and families.” The official said, “Because of the size, personnel from the highways department, police and fire and rescue services had to carry out work throughout the night.
The size of the boulders made their removal difficult, according to an official from the district administration. The impact left the stretch impassable even for two-wheelers, cutting off the main road link between Pollachi and Valparai. No vehicles were passing at the time of the incident, averting a possible major accident. The disruption left tourists returning from Valparai waiting for hours, with some reportedly facing a shortage of food and drinking water. Families with children were among those stranded near the Aliyar checkpost. We had no alternative road and had to wait until the road was cleared. District officials could have provided some assistance, at least to provide water or food for those waiting throughout the night.
The landslide occurred near the third hairpin bend on the ghat road around 8pm on Tuesday, with two giant boulders rolling onto the carriageway and damaging a section of the road. A tourist from Hosur said, “My three friends and I came to Valparai on Monday and were returning on Tuesday night.