By The News Observer Desk,
Karwar: A major traffic bottleneck on the steep Ganeshgudi-Ilva U-turn ghat section in the Western Ghats was finally resolved this morning after a heavily loaded bitumen (asphalt) trolley remained stranded for nearly 13 hours.
The incident began late Sunday night when the overloaded truck, carrying drums of hot bitumen, lost traction and came to a halt at the sharp U-turn on the dangerous ghat stretch connecting Karwar and Dharwad districts. The vehicle’s position completely blocked the narrow two-lane road, forcing hundreds of vehicles — including tourist cars, buses, and goods carriers — to remain stranded on both sides of the ghat.
Due to the steep incline, heavy weight of the load, and the risk of hot bitumen spilling, towing operations could not be carried out immediately during the night. Local police, highway authorities, and crane operators worked through the night to arrange additional equipment.
Clearance operations resumed at first light, and the truck was successfully moved only around 9:30 a.m. today, ending the 13-hour ordeal. Traffic movement has now been fully restored in both directions.
https://youtu.be/1aTlQybNRVY?si=JSvltiIz6cDL2EWw
Commuters reported severe hardship, with many spending the night in their vehicles in chilly weather. The Ganeshgudi ghat section is notorious for frequent breakdowns of overloaded vehicles, especially during the tourist season.
Authorities have once again urged transporters to avoid overloading and use low gear while negotiating the treacherous ghats to prevent such prolonged disruptions.
