Vehicles stranded in Nagaland after incessant rains

Imphal, May 23: Scores of vehicles were stranded on different state and national highways near Kohima, the state capital of Nagaland, due to landslides following incessant rains, authorities said on Monday. More rains are forecast in the next two days.

Goods-laden trucks, passenger buses and private vehicles bound for Imphal were among those stranded.

Traffic agencies in Imphal said: "A number of vehicles are stranded. There is a fear of fresh rockslides along the highways including NH-2 which connects Dimapur to Imphal."

Manipur was likely to be cut off from the rest of the country if more landslides hit NH-2, halting traffic movement completely.

Many consumer items vanished from the markets as transportation of rice, fuel and other items to Manipur was disrupted.

Manipur markets were also affected by repeated shutdowns, observed to demand creation of a price fixation committee in Manipur.

One consumer said: "In absence of the committee, wholesalers are fixing prices whimsically."

"The other lifeline of Manipur, NH-37 was already impassable. In fact, Tamenglong district through which NH-37 passes was inaccessible," officials said.

The Border Roads Organisation which looks after the national highways in the northeastern region was working to clear the debris on both the highways. However, sources said it will take several days before traffic movement could be restored.

Hundreds of persons, including students and candidates who are to appear in some examinations, were unable to leave Manipur and Nagaland due to the landslides.

IANS