.Berhampur: Authorities in Ganjam and Kandhamal districts have closed a landslide-prone stretch of NH-157 through Kalinga Ghat for two days from Wednesday as heavy to very heavy rain triggered by the Bay of Bengal deep depression raised the risk of slope failures.The Kalinga Ghat stretch serves as a vital road link between Ganjam and Kandhamal districts. Officials said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure because the ghat section is highly vulnerable to landslides during intense rainfall.“Considering the possibility of landslides due to heavy rain, both district administrations have decided to temporarily close the highway stretch,” said a Kandhamal district official.Police personnel have been deployed at both ends of the affected stretch to prevent vehicular movement. “We have stationed police personnel on our side and restricted traffic as the road is highly prone to landslides,” said Deepak Kumar Mishra, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Bhanjanagar.During the closure, vehicles travelling between the two districts will be diverted via Chakapada and other alternative routes, officials said.Latest restrictions come nearly a year after heavy rain triggered a major landslide near Kalinga Ghat on Sept 16 last year, damaging a portion of the highway and disrupting direct connectivity between Ganjam and Kandhamal. The road was subsequently closed for safety reasons.The damage, including to an old culvert, forced commuters to take a detour that added 20-30 km to their journey. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) took more than a month to restore the road and reopen it to traffic.