TDC states stand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 13 2018:
Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC) has stated that it would pressure NHIDCL and the State Government to repair parts of NH 37 which was affected by the landslide and has assured to provide every possible support to the authorities concerned in ensuring the route becomes motorable again.
During an inspection trip to the stretch of the National Highway near K Senam village which was damaged by landslides due to the incessant rain in the last few days, TDC president Hijam Ranjit said that numerous trucks and vehicles carrying goods and commodities from Jiribam side have been stranded after the landslide cut off the road.
The occurrence of landslides is due to lack of proper drainage system as well as lack of proper number of culverts along the National Highway, he said.
Assuring that TDC would also provide every possible help to the authorities concerned in ensuring the road becomes motorable again, he urged all the drivers and transporters to bear the inconveniences for a few days.
On the other hand, apart from the 150 metres long stretch of the National Highway near K Senam which got damaged yesterday, the portion of the road near 8th Assam Rifles post at Kotlen has also started sinking today.
A 50 metre stretch of the road has sunk by around four metres.
According to the villagers of the nearby area, they heard a loud sound at around 2.30 am and the road began sinking in the morning.
The sunken part of the road was repaired temporarily using an excavator and some light vehicles and heavy vehicles without goods have started passing the road.
The villagers informed that goods laden heavy vehicles are still not allowed to pass the stretch and if the rain does not stop, the road stretch may sink even further.
They conveyed that the landslide affected parts of the National Highway near K Senam cannot be repaired immediately as such even nearby places like Kotlen and Tupul are cut off from each other, let alone Imphal and Jiribam.
The TDC inspection team also came across four to five locations between Kotlen and K Senam which are being eroded by the water current and which could cave in any minute.
On the other hand, due to the river banks of Imphal River breaching near Don Bosco Langjing, the stretch of the National Highway near Patsoi-Langjing is submerged knee deep in flood water.