Rayagada: A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall under the influence of Cyclone 'Arnab' blocked a road connecting Rayagada and Gajapati districts in Odisha on Thursday morning.

The landslide occurred around 9 am to 10 am near Tarabel village under Sagada Gram Panchayat in Gunupur block of Rayagada district. The affected stretch is part of a road constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), connecting the village with Gajapati district.

The landslide has disrupted road connectivity from the Putasing and Sagada areas of Gunupur block towards Gajapati district. The affected area lies close to the inter-district border, where heavy rainfall caused soil and debris to slide down the hillside and block the road.

Restoration teams had not reached the spot at the time of reporting, as Tarabel village is located around 30 to 35 km from the block headquarters and the hilly terrain has made access difficult. Following the incident, the Rayagada Collector directed the concerned officials to reach the site and initiate restoration work.