Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, Aug 11: A couple of weeks ago a massive landslide brought down a torrent of mud and debris near Badur Tikrey destroying the uphill road that connects Radhanagar Gram Panchayat’s villages with Diglipur Bazaar.
As per report, the steep gradient of the cut slope, presence of highly weathered rock, thick debris, saturation due to rainfall and lack of toe support (the distance between the edge of the highway and the beginning of the slope, a key factor while designing stable slopes along road), disturbance of drainage flows are the primary causative factors of the debris flow.
Intense rainfall acted as the trigger for the landslide thereby severely damaging the steep road, as explained by the Engineers of the APWD, Diglipur. The high relief and overburden material in the hill slope suggest that retrogression of the slide is probable during prolonged rainfall, they further informed.
However, the Engineers of the concerned Division took immediate initiatives and swung into action thereby clearing the debris with excavator by cutting the earth in 4.5 mtr deep on war footing. Then as a stopgap measure, boulder pitching with a temporary retaining wall was done to arrest the further slide and damage of the road, they further said.
Meanwhile, the residents in the areas voiced their concern about the retrogression of the slide and further aggravation of the road in question. Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily they said that the intensified rain is yet to happen, and if the road further worsens, it will render a complete disruption of traffic on this route thereby putting the residents of these areas in facing severe commuting woes.
However, the Engineers of the concerned Division said that they have planned for a permanent solution to arrest the slide and further damage of the road thereby erecting a gabion wall along the road, and they have reportedly submitted the necessary estimate to the Office of the Superintending Engineer, Port Blair for approval, they informed.
Leave a Reply