NH-2 landslide : Loaded trucks stranded ; Local MLAs, DC inspect
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy Hornbill Express

Senapati, April 08 2015 : For the second day, loaded trucks transporting essential goods from other States continue to be stranded near Senapati district headquarters along NH-2 due to the landslide which occurred just below old district hospital on Monday.

According to Senapati police Officer-in-Charge Jonah Rimai, till Wednesday evening more than 90 trucks have been stranded near the district council area along NH-2 as the movement of loaded/heavy vehicles has been restricted to avoid further sinking and worsening the situation before any works are completed.

With the intervention of Deputy Commissioner Jacintha Lazarus and PWD National Highway division-II, the landslide area is under repairing and light vehicles diverted on temporary basis.

Remains of a house which was swept away by the landslide

Apart evacuating four/five families at the landslide areas, four standing wooden houses were also dismantled on precautionary ground.

Dr V Alexander Pao and L Dikho, after attending the NPF political awareness meeting at General Thangal Ecological Park, Mayangkhang also visited the landslide area.

Both the elected members were briefed by PWD officials supervising the site.

The MLAs have also expressed concern over the poor drainage system created by house constructions and land development works by some individuals in the area.

They have asked the PWD officials to speed up the work and open the highway to the public at the earliest possible.

Till noon, army convoys, private vehicles and local vehicles were seen using the by-pass route along Rikhumai Taphou which is unattended and narrow.

Empty trucks coming from Imphal side were also seen going back from Hengbung integrated composite gate to Imphal as possibilities of opening the highway till Thursday remained uncertain.

Notably, Senapati police and 35 AR men were on duty at the site.

With huge public inconveniences created due to the landslide, many have recommended the by-pass road which will also act as an alternate route to tackle the present situation especially in district headquarters areas.

On Tuesday, with the immediate intervention of the DC, traffic restrictions were imposed and necessary actions were taken up.

By the early hours of Wednesday, a PWD team led by the Chief Engineer, the Executive Engineer and other officials inspected and monitored the works at the site.

With possibilities of the situation getting worse in case of downpours, the PWD team has also decided to re-align the new cutting of 7 meters inward.

Here, houses located in the affected areas have been informed for possible evacuation.