Restrictions in Nelliampathy as rain triggers tree falls, rockfall on ghat road

Heavy rain has led to numerous treefalls and rockfalls along the Nenmara-Nelliampathy ghat road in the last two days, disrupting traffic and leading to movement restrictions.

A tree fell near Marappalam around 6 am on Saturday morning, blocking traffic for about 30 minutes. Vehicles, including a KSRTC bus, were stranded on the Nenmara-Karappara route. Forest teams closed the road and restarted traffic.

In a separate incident on the same day, another tree fell on the road leading to Meera Flora Mansion. Site workers removed the tree and restored movement.

A tree fell near Kundar Chola around 8 am on Friday, blocking traffic for about an hour. Fire and Rescue Services personnel removed the obstruction. Later in the day, a rock fell near Marappalam and was removed by the same team.

District Collector Sudhir K. imposed restrictions on the Nelliampathy ghat road, citing the risk of rockfall and landslides. Tourist entry and heavy vehicle movement are prohibited. Night traffic was restricted between 18:00 and 06:00, and residents were allowed access only in emergencies.

Violations will trigger action under the Disaster Management Act, officials said.