Heavy and continuous rainfall in Manipur’s hill districts has triggered landslides and mudslides, causing major disruptions along National Highway-37, the crucial road link between Imphal and Silchar via Jiribam. The landslides, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, brought vehicular movement to a standstill for nearly eight hours.
The incident occurred in Noney district, particularly affecting the highway stretches at Luwangchum and Ramchung villages, between New Kaiphundai, Awangkhun, and the Makhuthong bridge. Torrential rains over the past two days led to large volumes of mud and debris falling onto the road, halting the movement of both loaded vehicles from Silchar and empty trucks heading from Imphal towards Assam.
According to official sources, the landslides and mudslides were reported around 3 am. Immediate efforts were made to restore connectivity, with road construction agencies ABCI and NHIDCL deploying heavy machinery to clear the debris. By 11 am, road access was restored, and traffic resumed cautiously along the affected stretches.
Despite the disruption, police confirmed that prior to the landslide, movement of 265 vehicles carrying essential commodities had been successfully facilitated along NH-37. Authorities had implemented strict security measures at vulnerable locations, providing security convoys for safe passage through sensitive zones.
The landslides are part of a wider weather-related crisis affecting multiple regions of the state. The heavy rainfall has also led to rising water levels in the Nambul and Imphal rivers, prompting the Imphal West district administration to issue public warnings, advising people to avoid riverbanks due to the risk of flash floods.
The relentless rain has not only disrupted road connectivity and threatened riverine areas but also caused a noticeable drop in temperature across the state, adding to the impact on daily life.
Officials continue to monitor the situation closely as rains are expected to continue. With the state’s geography prone to weather-induced hazards, residents and commuters have been urged to remain vigilant, especially in the hill areas and near rivers.