Correspondent
KOHIMA, AUG 9 (NPN): Partial movement of heavy vehicles resumed on Asian Highway-1/NH-2 near Phesama village by 7 p.m. Sunday after authorities cleared part of a massive mudslide that had blocked the highway for nearly three days, stranding scores of trucks and disrupting the supply route to Manipur.
Triggered by incessant rain on Friday, the landslide buried around 250 metres of the highway near Phesama, before the exit road to Naga Heritage Village, Kisama. Light motor vehicles were diverted through the Rhododendron Resort road, while heavy vehicles remained stranded as officials restricted movement over safety concerns.
By Sunday evening, unloaded trucks travelling from Manipur and several 10-tyre trucks bound for Manipur were allowed through the affected stretch under official supervision.
Truck driver Devinder, carrying 14 tonnes of tiles from Delhi to Manipur, told Nagaland Post he spent five days travelling from Delhi to Dimapur but another five days stranded in Nagaland, including three days at Phesama. Another driver, Jiyabur, transporting chicken feed to Ukhrul, said he had been stranded for two days and faced difficulties due to the lack of nearby eateries, accommodation and public toilets.
A restoration worker said heavy vehicles were initially stopped because the weakened road posed a risk of toppling.
Two excavators continued clearing debris and strengthening the damaged section from both ends. Officials said normal traffic would resume gradually after the stretch is fully stabilised, though there was no definite timeline.