from special correspondent
Beltangady: Two state ministers got stranded without being able to move further on Charmadi ghat road for about three hours on Saturday.
According to information reaching here, minister of health and family welfare U T Khader was on his way from Chikkamagaluru towards Mangaluru and minister of youth empowerment and sports Abhayachandra towards Moodbidri. Many other passengers felt that this experience might make them take immediate action to ease the situation.
The situation was at its worst between noon and midnight. The 11-km-long ghat section of the road has 11 hairpin curves. Thoughtless and callous driving by a few motorists aggravated the situation.
Sensing the possible trouble in advance, DK superintendent of police Dr Sharanappa took charge of the traffic in persond with his team right up late in the night. Traffic was stopped from either direction and the vehicles were allowed to pass by turns.
The SP of Chikkamagaluru and his team also joined the efforts. From Mangaluru, DC A B Ibrahim was constantly in touch with the two SPs and other officials to coordinate the traffic movement.
All heavy vehicles moved by the Mani-Puttur-Sullia and Madikeri through the Sampaje ghat route, where the movement was said to be smooth. Repair works pending in Goonadka and Adkar have been completed. The bridge at Kulchar has been completed and released to traffic. Another bridge at Kallugundi too will be ready soon.
The DC also said that home guards would be commissioned to control traffic on the ghat roads.