The Sampadak Express News Desk
The Idukki district administration in Kerala on October 20 banned vehicular movement on the Adimaly–Munnar stretch of the Kochi–Dhanushkodi National Highway after a major rockfall at Randammile near Munnar during highway-widening work, The Hindu reported.
Officials said the restriction was imposed because loose boulders and roadside trees were posing an immediate danger to motorists. They estimated it would take about three days to demolish unstable rock, clear debris and make the corridor safe for reopening.
District Collector Dineshan Cheruvayal instructed the National Highways Authority of India’s project director to complete the clearance within three days. Traffic will resume only after a technical expert committee inspects the affected stretch and certifies it as safe, according to the district administration.
Police and local authorities have been directed to install proper barricades and step up night-time security along the closed section to prevent accidents and restrict unauthorised access.
Traffic has been diverted through alternative routes. Vehicles travelling from Adimaly to Munnar must turn off at Iruttukanam and proceed via Anachal and Randammile to reach Munnar. Motorists heading from Munnar to Adimaly can take the reverse Randammile–Anachal–Iruttukanam route. Travellers bound for Mankulam should divert at Iruttukanam to reach Kallar Junction before turning onto the Mankulam road.
To reduce the risk of future rockfalls, the District Disaster Management Authority asked the NHAI to stop vertical cutting of roadside slopes and to adopt scientific bench-cutting methods for the highway-widening work.
The closure has come amid the Pooja holiday rush, when Munnar typically sees a heavy inflow of visitors. Tourism stakeholders warned that diverting vehicles off the primary highway could intensify congestion and lead to extended gridlock across the hill station.
Authorities said the route will remain shut until the debris is cleared and experts confirm the stability of the slope along the highway.
