A week after a massive landslide struck the Sabarimala forests, Gavi, the remote settlement and popular tourist destination deep inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve, remains cut off from Pathanamthitta as debris continues to block the Moozhiyar-Gavi route.

According to officials, the landslide near the valve house along the route around midnight on July 31, about 7 km from 40 Acres Colony at Moozhiyar, brought a huge mound of earth onto the road, bringing traffic along the route to a standstill. Much of the debris has since slid further down the slope, while the road itself is also suspected to have suffered damage. The stretch falls under the Laha section of the Public Works department.

The delay in clearing the debris has left Gavi residents facing a prolonged travel crisis. Official sources say workers are reluctant to undertake the clearance work amid fears of another slide, while heavy rainwater continues to flow through the vulnerable stretch.

The KSRTC operates two buses from the Pathanamthitta depot and one from Kumily along the Gavi route. With the road blocked, the Kumily depot bus continues to operate up to Gavi to meet the needs of residents. Tourist services, however, at present go only up to Kakki before turning back.

Forest officials say the road connecting Gavi with Vandiperiyar in Idukki district remains intact. The operations of the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC), which manages plantations in Gavi and runs tourism initiatives there, have also remained unaffected as it brings in tourists via Vandiperiyar.

With the road link to Pathanamthitta severed, the KFDC has stepped in to help residents cope with the disruption. “The agency conducted medical camps and sent officials through the settlement to assess travel requirements of the residents. Ambulances have also been deployed for emergency evacuations,” says an official.

The disruption, meanwhile, has also complicated access to the Sabarigiri hydroelectric project. Inspections of the Kakki, Anathode and Pampa dams have also suffered, as officials have to take a circuitous route via Vandiperiyar and Vallakkadavu, which adds nearly 120 km to the journey.

Official sources say dam safety officials have been camping at Anathode to monitor the situation and remain prepared to respond to any emergency.

Published - August 10, 2026 08:01 pm IST