The Ri-Bhoi District Magistrate has had to intervene and ban heavy vehicles from traversing the Umiam Dam bridge in order to protect the ageing structure from collapse.
The prohibitory order bans the plying of vehicles weighing more than 20 tonnes over the dam due to the age of the two spillway bridges.
In addition, any two vehicles travelling in the same direction should maintain sufficient distance between them so that they avoid crossing the spillway bridge at the same time.
Umiam Dam is close to 60 years old and fears for its safety have been raised periodically over the last few years.
