Rayagada: Passengers traveling on National Highway 326 (Rayagada-Koraput), particularly near Gumma Ghat under Rayagada Sadar Police Station, frequently face difficulties due to accidents and heavy vehicles getting stuck on the road.
On Wednesday, a trailer carrying a transformer lost balance and overturned at a crucial turning point, blocking the road. As a result, traffic remained halted for eight hours. It was only after relentless efforts that the transformer was cleared from the road, restoring normal traffic flow. However, before the night was over, another large vehicle got stuck at the same spot on Thursday morning due to the fallen transformer, once again leading to a traffic jam for eight hours.
According to locals, the incident occurred when a heavy goods vehicle traveling from Rayagada towards Koraput got stuck due to the transformer lying on the roadside. The stranded vehicle caused major disruptions, affecting the movement of buses, cars, and other four-wheelers, while bikes dangerously navigated their way underneath the stuck vehicle to cross the blocked section.
The roadblock also caused severe inconvenience to Matriculation examinees, who were on their way to various high schools for their board exams. Several passenger buses and heavy vehicles remained stranded on both sides of Gumma Ghat. Eventually, Rayagada police and Kumbhikota police arrived at the spot and worked to remove the stuck vehicle, restoring traffic flow around 2 PM in the afternoon.
Frequent Traffic Problems Spark Public Discontent
The persistent traffic congestion at Gumma Ghat has led to growing dissatisfaction among passengers and locals. The National Highway 326 serves as the primary route connecting Rayagada to Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Koraput, and even neighboring Andhra Pradesh. Many industrial establishments in the undivided Koraput district depend on this highway.
Due to multiple sharp turns in Gumma Ghat, heavy vehicle movement frequently results in traffic disruptions and accidents. Although district road safety committee meetings are held regularly, no precautionary road safety measures, such as warning signboards, have been installed at the accident-prone areas of Gumma Ghat. As a result, drivers from other states, unfamiliar with the sharp turns, often become victims of accidents.
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