Correspondent
KOHIMA, AUG 4 (NPN): Landslides triggered by heavy and incessant rains have once again snapped road connectivity between the State capital Kohima and Dimapur, which also is the lifeline to Manipur.
Landslides occurred at two locations – the previous landslide area and some 100 metres away from the first place – on NH-29 near the old KMC dumping site (about 6 km from here) around 1 a.m. on Sunday.
Hundreds of vehicles, including Manipur bound trucks and buses, were stranded.
It may be mentioned that the incident took place barely two weeks after a stretch of NH 29 near Old KMC dumping site was temporarily restored and opened to traffic.
National Highway division junior engineer (JE) Imkongsungit informed Nagaland Post that the first landslide location was restored, though road in the second location was totally washed away for around 20 metres. He said it would take around eight to nine days to restore the highway, provided the weather turned favourable.
RCC walls would have to put up in the affected area in consultation with land owners, he added.
It was also reported that the department officials will be making a 3-slope benching and will carrying out fresh cutting for a carriage way as a temporary restoration.
Imkongsungit said currently five machines were working at the site and that more machineries would be sent on Monday.
Regarding alternative route for movement of vehicles, light vehicles will ply towards Jotsoma by-pass, while heavy vehicles will move towards 10th Mile (Dimapur) to Meriema side.
The JE said Kohima deputy commissioner, along with revenue officer, chief engineer, commissioner and secretary and other district administration officials visited the landslide area on Sunday.
Sources said Kohima superintendent of police has asked his counterpart in Manipur to direct trucks from the State to ply towards Meriema and 10th Mile (Dimapur).
Earlier, landslides occurred at two locations here around midnight. The first massive landslide occurred near SKV petrol pump, which totally blocked the main road. However, it was cleared for one-way traffic by Sunday afternoon and PWD (R&B) officials assured that the entire road would be cleared by Sunday night.
The second landslide occurred at Lerie Colony near old employment office. However, the debris was cleared by afternoon for vehicular movement. Sources said there was no casualty and damage of property at both the locations.
The stretch being a landslide prone area had witnessed landslides and subsidence of road in the past years specially during the monsoon season.