Alice Yhoshu
KOHIMA, AUGUST 21
The landslide at Phesama on National Highway-29 along Dimapur-Kohima-Mao (DKM) Sector has worsened over the past 48 hours and the authorities on Friday advised a complete closure of vehicular movement on this road. As per the BRO personnel working at the site, about 100m of the highway has been affected so far and they are unsure of how long it will hold up as the slide has reportedly affected a huge portion of the entire hillock.
A Manipur-bound passenger bus and a BRTF excavator were swept downhill by the force of the mudslide earlier today. The bus is estimated to have been dragged down about 200 feet below the road along the trough by afternoon. The excavator was said to be attempting a recovery on the bus before being swept down as well. However, no casualty was reported as the authorities present said the passengers of the bus were evacuated as soon as the vehicle got stuck in the middle of the sludgy road yesterday. Around 300 heavy vehicles including goods laden trucks and buses remained stranded on the highway on either sides of the landslide area.
At least 10 houses on the roadside were directly affected and occupants have been evacuated a few days ago, says a Phesama Youth Organization (PYO) leader. He said five houses were dismantled while the others stood damaged.
Phesama villagers, the landowners of the area have mobilized a strong voluntary team to assist commuters as well as in the muck-clearing operations. A temporary footpath was arranged through several paddy fields of the village for the last two days for commuters, but this is unlikely to be in use for long as the mudslide has already reached the fields as well. The villagers are said to be out surveying for another route which would be viable and safe for pedestrians. Around 130 cadets from St. Pauls School Phesama NCC and St. Joseph’s College NCC and NSS today joined in with Phesama villagers and volunteered in helping commuters, particularly the elderly and children to cross over from one side of the landslide to the other by carrying their luggage and aiding them along the arduous footpath.
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The district administration, police and the Kohima District Disaster Management Authority is also fully engaged in the operations, and a medical officer is being stationed on each side of the perimeter along with first aid tools and stretchers to tend and ferry any seriously ill patients if the need arises.
Meanwhile, BRO workers are trying to improve drainage in the debris field and cut troughs to flow down in the slide area. They are currently working with three machinery including a payloader, a dozer and an excavator. Two heavier machines are expected to join the operations by Saturday, one from Maram-Peren Road and the other from Botsa. This was informed by the BRO officer in charge of NH-29 DKM Sector who was at the site supervising the operations on Friday. He remarked that his men will continue clearing the sludge and they will continue working at night if the weather permits.
According to Phesama Village Council chairman, Vimedo Chuse, the entire area is a highly vulnerable area and several major landslides were recorded in the past dating back as early as 1962.
