Landslides keep parts of NE cut off for three days

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Guwahati, Aug 28 (UNI) The North Eastern states of Mizoram, Tripura, parts of western Manipur and the entire Barak valley of Assam remained cut off from the rest of the country for the third consecutive day today with restricted road communication likely to be restored only tomorrow.

Heavy landslides at Damcherra village near Sonapur in Meghalaya on Sunday night at NH 44 had led to suspension of vehicular traffic on the route.

The NH 44 connecting Badarpur in south Assam with Jawai in Meghalaya is the lifeline for the connecting regions.

The western districts of Manipur had also been severely affected as the sole road link had been cut off after the railway communication was snapped following the collapse of a bridge near Maibong earlier.

Commandant of Katigora-based 97 Road Construction Coy of BRTF S K Singh said work was going on war footing to restore the vital road link.

He said light vehicles could be allowed to pass through the stretch by tomorrow though it would take time to allow heavier traffic.

Mr Singh said efforts were on to remove the big boulders, trees and debris that came tumbling down the Jaintia hills and construct a substitute road in place of a 50 mt stretch of the NH, which was washed away by the landslide on Sunday afternoon.

Due to incessant rain, huge boulders, mud and tree had rolled down the hills at about 1430 hours on Sunday.

On both sides, thousands of trucks had been stranded. The number was much higher than usual as FCI alone was plying more than 200 trucks to move essentials as the railway lines had been snapped for the past 45 days.

The actual work of mud clearance started this morning as more than 48 hours were needed to mobilise the logistics with 300 mt getting deluged in to the Lubah river, completely severing road service.

Sources said it might take a month to reinstate the road. Meanwhile, Union Heavy Industries Minister S M Dev had talks with BRTF officials regarding the restoration and instructed Jowai Police and Superintendent of Police of Cachar and Karimjanj to provide safety to passengers, trucks and goods, at present stranded there.

Cachar Additional Deputy Commissioner Bahnisikha Dutta said progress of work by BRTF was satisfactory and traffic on the NH would be restored soon.

Stock of essentials was sufficient and there was no possibility of scarcity of essentials, she added.

In spite of the administration's assurance of available stock in the affected areas, prices of essentials were reported to have skyrocketed.

UNI

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X