Vehicular traffic was disrupted for about two-and-a-half hours today on the Mettupalayam-Udhagamandalam Road, following a landslide near Barliar in the Nilgiris district, following heavy rains last night.

According to police, a big boulder and four tress fell across the road on ninth hairpin bend around 8.30 a.m. paralysing the traffic on the highway. Vehicles from Mettupalayam were found stranded for nearly three km. Traffic from both the sides were diverted via Kothagiri, resulting in congestion on the road.

Public Works Department personnel and fire service and rescue department staff rushed to the spot and managed to remove the boulder and trees with the help of earth movers. Normal traffic resumed around 12 noon.

Meanwhile, the Nilgiris district authorities have advised trucks and lorries to avoid Barliar Road during night as more rains are expected, which may result in further landslides, official sources said.

Udhagamandalam, Kothagiri and Gudalur experienced heavy rains from midnight yesterday, resulting in biting cold from early hours today.