NH 39 blocked following heavy downpour

Kohima, Aug 08 (UNI) Hundreds of trucks have been stranded between Zubza and Kohima on National Highway 39 since yesterday following the sinking of a portion of the highway, triggered by heavy downpour on Wednesday.

Official sources said here today that the portion of the road is inundated and the administration is not allowing heavy vehicles to cross the waterlogged part of the road, which might cause disaster for the vehicles.

However, light vehicles are allowed to pass without any load.

Hundreds of trucks, carrying essential commodities and fuel tankers from several parts of Nagaland and Manipur are stranded on the lifeline of the both states.

Meanwhile, the Nagaland government has taken serious note of the bad road condition of the NH 39 and following the instruction of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the state Chief Secretary has called the officers of the Border Road Task Force (BRTF), working here for the Border Road Organisation (BRO), and conveyed his displeasure over the ''very bad shape of the road and poor quality of other constructions.'' He also wrote a letter to the Commander of the 15th BRTF, stationed at Kohima, reminding him to expedite the repairs on the road.

He also directed the Commander of the BRTF to take up the work on a war footing and confirm with the state government while making it clear that if the response is not positive and timely, he will bring the matter to the Director General of the BRO.

UNI AS DPM SS1100