Continuous heavy rainfall has triggered a landslide along the Kethikal hill stretch of the under-construction four-lane Mangalore–Shivamogga National Highway (NH-169), disrupting traffic movement. Authorities from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that debris from the landslide was cleared promptly, allowing vehicles to continue using the unaffected lane while the damaged section remains closed.
According to NHAI Project Director Abdulla Javed Azmi, the affected lane had already been shut to traffic nearly six weeks ago as a precaution. Construction of a retaining (breast) wall was already underway after geotechnical studies identified the hillside as unstable. Officials explained that soil investigations had revealed weak ground conditions, prompting preventive measures before the incident occurred. Work on the retaining wall is expected to be completed before the next monsoon season. NHAI also stated that it had anticipated the possibility of further mudslides in the area and had begun stabilisation work in phases. Necessary safety arrangements have been put in place at the site, while traffic continues to be regulated through the remaining open lane.This version uses different wording while preserving the key facts from the original report.
