Bakuntala, September 23: A major landslide occurred at Nandi Dera area near Bakuntala in Middle Andaman on Wednesday morning, cutting away a significant portion of the National Highway and raising serious concerns over road safety and connectivity to North Andaman.
According to local villagers, a substantial section of the roadside and highway embankment slipped away, leaving only a limited portion of the road available for vehicular movement. The development caused vehicles to slow down while passing through the affected stretch.
Speaking about the incident, Bakuntala Pradhan Narayan Mondal said he had repeatedly warned the concerned departments, including the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, National Highway officials and the road contractor, about the vulnerable condition of the location over the past two months.
Mondal said that during a meeting with the District Commissioner of North & Middle Andaman around two months ago, he had requested an inspection of the site and explained the potential danger. According to him, the District Commissioner subsequently examined the situation and directed the concerned National Highway officials to take immediate measures.
However, the Pradhan alleged that the required work was delayed despite repeated warnings. He said that the landslide on Wednesday morning resulted in a major portion of the road being affected.
Following the incident, the contractor reportedly started repair work at the site. However, Mondal expressed concern that the present patchwork may not provide a long-term solution.
He alleged that water continues to flow beneath the affected road section, weakening the soil and increasing the possibility of further sliding. He urged the National Highway authorities to closely monitor the location and direct the contractor to undertake a permanent engineering solution instead of only repairing the upper surface.
The Pradhan suggested that a permanent solution could involve construction of a new culvert or undertaking deep-side protection and reconstruction of the affected road section, depending on the technical assessment of the site.
The affected stretch is particularly important as the National Highway serves as a major road link for North Andaman. Local residents expressed concern that if a larger landslide completely blocks the highway, road connectivity to North Andaman could be severely disrupted, with limited alternative routes available.
Residents have urged the National Highway authorities and concerned departments to conduct an immediate technical assessment of the affected section and ensure that permanent preventive measures are taken before further deterioration occurs.
The incident has once again highlighted the need for timely monitoring and maintenance of vulnerable stretches of the National Highway, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall when soil erosion and slope instability can increase.
