Imphal, July 10: After pushing the state into immense hardships from repeated floods and heavy crop losses torrential rains dealt another body blow incapacitating its two main highways, NH-37 and NH-2, from movement of large vehicles after landslides struck there within hours.
According to AIR, Nagaland, the stretch of Imphal-Dimapur national highway in Kiruphema Village, under Kohima district has been completely washed away yesterday due to incessant rain for the last few days, virtually cutting-off the lifeline to Kohima as well as Manipur.
On the other hand, a stretch of NH-37 between Sinam and Leijang villages in Tamenglong district measuring about 100 meters in length caved in yesterday leaving the important road link of the state inaccessible to large vehicles.
Hundreds of loaded trucks and oil tankers are stranded at either sides of the landslide at both sites. With the news of restriction in movement of vehicles ferrying supplies along both highways seeping in, there is speculation that public might panic over the prospect of sudden escalation in prices of essential commodities and ultimately lead to panic buying.
In consonance with the thinking, but utterly unexplainably, many petrol pumps in the state capital have shut down shutters by noon out of nowhere and closed sale of petrol and diesels sending irate customers away.
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) officials said that a severe landslide and sinking in Peducha Village area of the NH-2, has made the road inaccessible for all types of vehicles. NHIDCL General Manager, AK Gupta in a press release informed that the restoration of affected site will begin from July 10 onwards on top priority. NHIDCL officials, along with the Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, the Chief Engineer of National Highways and contractors inspected the affected site yesterday. The repair is likely to consume around 15 days.
In this connection, the Superintendent of Police, Kohima has issued certain traffic advisory for the convenience of the people. The advisory stated that only light vehicles will be allowed to proceed towards Dimapur from Kohima via Zubza road. All light vehicles coming from Dimapur and proceeding towards Kohima and beyond will be diverted towards Peducha-Tsiesema road. No vehicle coming
from Dimapur will be allowed towards Kohima via Zubza road. Plying of all heavy vehicles on NH 29 to and from Kohima and Dimapur will be restricted till the washed-off section of the highway is restored.
Meantime, labourers of Border Road Task Force are engaged in clearing the mess at the site of landslide in Tamenglong district
