Shiradi Ghat closed for 10 days after landslides topple heavy vehicles killing 2

coastaldigest.com web desk

August 16, 2018

Mangaluru, Aug 16: The Shiradi Ghat stretch of National Highway 75 is likely to remain closed for vehicles for next 10 days owing to landslips triggered by heavy rain.

Heaps of rubble falling on the road brushed away two buses and a gas tanker truck, and left hundreds of vehicles stuck on the stretch on Tuesday. One person was found dead, while another is missing as the gas tanker fell off the road to a depth of 150 m.

Vehicular movement has been affected on the stretch for the last three days because of several landslips.

Around 40 passengers were in for a shock when a heap of rubble falling on the road pushed the KSRTC bus they were travelling by into a gorge. Another private bus met with a similar situation. However, there were no casualties in the incidents.

The gas tanker fell off the road late in the night on Tuesday. K. Ranganath, District Fire Officer, said. “The truck has fallen 150 m off the road. We could not go near the truck in the night as it was raining heavily. The staff reached the spot on Wednesday morning. There is leakage of gas from the tanker,” he said.

The staff found a body near the truck. One more person is feared to have died in the incident.

Minister for Public Works H.D. Revanna told reporters in Hassan that the government would take up a project to avoid landslips in the region permanently. “We will work out a plan to stop landslips permanently after the rain recedes,” he said.

Comments

What a pathetic situation. Recently opened for travel. Disaster spoiled everythig. Man's intervention on nature and natural source caused everything

I suggest some experts should study about the Shiradi Ghat and should find alternate way if that not safe for nature and human. Panel should be like Gadgil committee or similar panel

Shiradi Ghat is not safe. That project was not good for nature.

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Gold smuggling accused Ranya Rao allotted land for steel plant by BJP govt in 2023: KIADB

Agencies

March 10,2025

Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya – also known as Ranya Rao, arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai – was allotted land to set up a steel plant by the previous Karnataka government in February 2023, said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) said on Sunday.

Ranya Rao was found to be in possession of gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Searches were also conducted at her residence, and gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore were seized, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had said on Wednesday.

Ranya is the stepdaughter of DGP-rank senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao.

The KIADB's statement comes after reports claimed that a company linked to Ranya Rao was allotted 12 acres of industrial land by the board in 2023.

The office of the minister for medium and large industries MB Patil shared the government's final notification issued on February 22, 2023, regarding the allocation of land to Ranya Rao's firm Ksiroda India at the Sira Industrial Area in the Tumakuru district, news agency PTI reported.

The Congress came to power after defeating the Basavaraj Bommai-led Bharatiya Janata Party in the Karnataka assembly election in May 2023.

The proceedings of the Karnataka government, shared by the minister's office, said, "Approval to the proposal of M/s Ksiroda India Private Limited to establish a unit for manufacture of 'steel products - TMT bars, rods and allied products' at Sira Industrial Area, Tumakuru district.

"The government is pleased to accord in-principle approval to the investment proposal of ₹138 crore, generating employment to about 160 persons with the following infrastructure assistances, incentives and concessions," it said.

In a press release issued by MB Patil's office, the KIADB said the allotment to the company linked to Ranjya Rao was done in January 2023.

KIADB CEO Mahesh said on Sunday Ksiroda India was allotted 12 acres of land on January 2, 2023, by the previous government, referring to the BJP, the PTI report added.

"The land, located in Sira Industrial Area, Tumakuru district, was approved for allotment during the 137th State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) meeting held on the same day, when the last govt was in power," PTI quoted Mahesh as saying.

According to the KIADB press release, the company had submitted a proposal to set up a manufacturing unit for steel TMT bars, rods, and allied products, with an investment of ₹138 crore. The project was expected to generate approximately 160 jobs.

Ramachandra Rao is currently serving as the chairman and managing director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.

The total seizure in the case stood at ₹17.29 crore, including assets worth ₹4.73 crore, marking a significant blow to organised gold smuggling networks.

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