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Members of Sechü-Zubza youth organisation distributing tea and snacks to stranded passengers.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 5 (EMN): Notwithstanding the irregular route and traffic hassle for travellers between Kohima and Dimapur, due to landslides triggered by incessant rain, volunteers rushed to aid stranded travellers on different days of this week.
Following the heavy downpour, a total of 300 metre along National Highway-29, near Sechü-Zubza, has been affected due to landslides since September 30. Vehicles plying through this route were restricted and were stuck for hours till was road was cleared.
But Sechü-Zubza youth organisation, with the financial help of the district administration and the village council, as well as the police personnel stationed in Sechü-Zubza, stepped in to provide free tea, drinking water, juice and snacks for the stranded passengers on October 3 and the 4th. Volunteers also offered porter services to the passengers apart from distributing free eateries.
Meanwhile, along Tsiesema-Peducha road, where vehicular movements between Kohima and Dimapur were temporality diverted, more than 20 volunteers from ‘Aces High Nagaland’ and ‘Nagaland 4x4’ had assisted police in directing traffic.
Their initiative to assist the vehicles and travellers plying along this route started when a car belonging to one of their friends got trapped in the muddy road on October 3, said Ahu Khezie, a member of Aces High.
In a joint effort, the members along with the traffic police had helped eight oil tankers besides light vehicles, to ply the narrow road the next day, working for more than ten hours, he added.
“Most of us are unemployed and engage ourselves in small businesses and our schedules are not really tight. So we decided that rather than just gathering together in the evening (like we often do), we will utilise our time to help others,” he said.
The adventure clubs, being equipped with off-road gears, were able to help the community at the right time, Khezie said adding that “we wanted to do our bit in the best way we can”.
As traffic along the highway returned to normalcy, the teams took a break on Saturday. He, however, assured of further help if at all the rains continue. The clubs have been engaging in charity and community services since their inception in 2018.