+
Landslide Halts Rs 250 Million Road Project in Odisha
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Landslide Halts Rs 250 Million Road Project in Odisha

A major landslide triggered by intense overnight rainfall has struck a key road-widening site near Kalinga Ghat in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, causing a section of a newly built hill embankment to give way. The incident, which occurred late on Monday night, fortunately resulted in no casualties.

Initial reports indicate that a stone-reinforced retaining wall, constructed as part of an ongoing highway expansion project, collapsed due to water saturation, sending large amounts of debris cascading down the hillside.

Two heavy-duty JCB machines stationed at the site were dragged downhill as the unstable ground beneath them collapsed. Officials confirmed that no personnel were present at the immediate location during the incident.

The Rs 250 million infrastructure project, aimed at widening and securing the accident-prone stretch of the Kalinga Ghat road, has now been temporarily suspended pending a full technical assessment. The project has been under development for over two years and was intended to improve safety and traffic flow in the region’s steep terrain.

According to engineers, the embankment—reinforced with stone blocks to stabilise the hill’s edge—failed to withstand the intense downpour, highlighting the vulnerability of such structures in monsoon-prone, hilly regions.

Though the incident appears to be caused by natural factors, district authorities have ordered a detailed inspection of the site. The findings of this technical evaluation will guide potential modifications in the construction approach and determine the revised timeline for the resumption of work.

The event has sparked broader concerns about the resilience of hill-road infrastructure during seasonal extremes, particularly with the increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events.

A major landslide triggered by intense overnight rainfall has struck a key road-widening site near Kalinga Ghat in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, causing a section of a newly built hill embankment to give way. The incident, which occurred late on Monday night, fortunately resulted in no casualties.Initial reports indicate that a stone-reinforced retaining wall, constructed as part of an ongoing highway expansion project, collapsed due to water saturation, sending large amounts of debris cascading down the hillside.Two heavy-duty JCB machines stationed at the site were dragged downhill as the unstable ground beneath them collapsed. Officials confirmed that no personnel were present at the immediate location during the incident.The Rs 250 million infrastructure project, aimed at widening and securing the accident-prone stretch of the Kalinga Ghat road, has now been temporarily suspended pending a full technical assessment. The project has been under development for over two years and was intended to improve safety and traffic flow in the region’s steep terrain.According to engineers, the embankment—reinforced with stone blocks to stabilise the hill’s edge—failed to withstand the intense downpour, highlighting the vulnerability of such structures in monsoon-prone, hilly regions.Though the incident appears to be caused by natural factors, district authorities have ordered a detailed inspection of the site. The findings of this technical evaluation will guide potential modifications in the construction approach and determine the revised timeline for the resumption of work.The event has sparked broader concerns about the resilience of hill-road infrastructure during seasonal extremes, particularly with the increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Hindmetal Pioneers EM Tech in Mineral Exploration

Hindmetal Exploration Services (HESPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hindustan Zinc, has become the first company in India to deploy advanced Electromagnetic (EM) technologies for mineral exploration. The initiative marks a major leap in the nation’s ability to identify hidden mineral resources with unprecedented precision.The breakthrough involves two cutting-edge tools: borehole EM, which detects and maps conductive ore bodies such as sulfide deposits in high detail, and SQUID surface sensors, which capture even the weakest electromagnetic signals—ideal for spotting low-conductivity or d..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Autodesk Launches Local Data Storage for India

Autodesk has announced the launch of localized data storage in India, enabling businesses and public sector organizations to store and manage project data within the country. This expansion, part of Autodesk’s global regional offerings, supports regulated sectors such as government, infrastructure, and utilities by meeting compliance requirements while ensuring enterprise-grade security, privacy, and data recoverability.The move comes as Autodesk’s 2025 State of Design & Make report reveals that while digital transformation drives significant ROI in the architecture, engineering, const..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Rosatom Opens Pilot Uranium Facility at Tanzania’s Mkuju River Project

Mantra Tanzania, a subsidiary of Uranium One Group (part of Rosatom), has commissioned a pilot uranium processing facility at the Mkuju River project in southern Tanzania. The inauguration, attended by Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, alongside senior government officials, community leaders, and Rosatom representatives, marks a major step forward in Russia–Tanzania nuclear energy cooperation.Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, said: “Rosatom offers its cutting-edge uranium processing technologies to unlock Tanzania’s geological ..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?