Fresh landslides triggered by heavy rainfalls have again disrupted traffic at Kuliang on National Highway-6 in East Jaiñtia Hills today morning.
The route from Ratacherra to Silchar has been blocked following the landslides.
East Jaintia Hills police today informed that work to clear the landslides that occurred this morning has been going on nonstop all day and it is expected to be completed soon.
“However as of 5 pm today, NH-6 is still blocked for traffic,” East Jaiñtia Hills police informed.
The landslide brought in a massive mound of mud and boulders triggered by incessant rain over the past couple of days and several earth movers have been pressed into service to clear the debris.
It may be mentioned that heavy rainfall triggered major landslides in at least four places on NH-6 on May 14, thereby cutting off Barak Valley areas of Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, and parts of Manipur from the rest of the country.
Due to the landslides in at least four places between Khliehriat and Malidor in East Jaiñtia Hills, vehicular movement was disrupted and hundreds of vehicles got stranded on NH-6.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that he has requested Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to intervene and extend help to passengers stranded on NH-6
Sarma said that due to massive landslides in Meghalaya, movements of passengers and heavy vehicles carrying goods have been severely affected in the Barak Valley.
“I have requested Hon CM Shri @SangmaConrad to kindly intervene and extend help. He has assured all possible cooperation,” Sarma tweeted.
NH-6 not only connects Assam and Meghalaya but is also considered the lifeline of Tripura, Mizoram and Barak Valley of southern Assam.
Meanwhile, restrictions have been imposed under Section 144 CrPC after an RCC bridge located along Sonapur- Borghat road near Shymplong village was washed away by heavy rains.
East Jaiñtia Hills district magistrate in an order today has prohibited vehicular movement and any attempts by persons to cross the stream on foot, boat etc.
The bridge was completely washed out as water pounded it.
“The road connectivity was brought to a sudden halt thereby making vehicular movement and passerby/ commuters along the bridge dangerous and risky,” the order said.
The bridge connects four border villages that include Shymplong, Lejri, Lahlein and Huroi.