The authorities have declared that the landslide at Sonapyrdi tunnel also known as Sonapur tunnel on National Highway-6 has worsened and blocked both sides of the road rendering it unsafe for travel at present.
According to East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal, due to the enormity of the sludge that is descending at the tunnel from the adjoining hills, the clearance and restoration of the road for vehicular movement is likely to take time.
Baranwal also advised all vehicles to opt for alternative routes wherever possible till further information is shared on the condition of the road.
It may be noted that continuous landslides at the Sonapyrdi tunnel have caused blockage at the tunnel along NH-6 that connects Meghalaya with Silchar in eastern Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura.
The mudslide has left hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road.
Due to continuous landslides caused by incessant and heavy rains over the past few days, all operations to clear the tunnel were futile.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is struggling to clear the tunnel of the debris.
Landslides, mudslides and heavy rainfall have been reported from across Meghalaya over the last ten days. 79 villages have been affected in the last nine days of incessant rain.
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has activated the Common Alerting Protocol following forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall in seven of the 12 districts including East Khasi Hills.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has asked all districts in the State to be on alert for heavy rainfall.
