Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Nov. 1: Due to restoration works following a landslide that occurred between Chumukedima police check-post and old Kukidolong bridge on Oct. 30, National Highway-29 continues to be closed to traffic.
A government official from Chumukedima informed on Thursday that more rocks fell from above the road damaging some machinery and adding risk to the area.
“Complete restoration shall take more time,” the official said while informing that the workers are looking at next week for normalcy to return.
Though a small passage has been cleared, the official warned it was not safe for vehicles as well as pedestrians to use it.
Meanwhile, youth from Chumukedima village have cleared a route in the jungle across the river for emergency cases, it was informed.
The firm ‘Skill Alli’ donated drinking water to the stranded passengers and arranged their office to be used as shelter for women and children stranded while the Hindu society, Chumukedima will be also providing food from Nov. 2 to any stranded passengers in need, the official informed.
In a notice to the chief secretary of Nagaland, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Cooperation Limited (NHIDCL) on Thursday stated that earthwork along the four-lane Dimapur-Kohima road between New Chumukedima and the bridge by M/S Ramkey-ECI is under progress.
It also stated that the ‘existing chainage 126+000 to 126+100 (design Km 126+250 to Km 126+350) affecting 100 metre length has blocked the entire width of road obstructing traffic movement.’
Since the landslide consists of huge boulders, the restoration work that started early on Oct. 31 is still in progress which also requires low-intensity blasts, excavators and dumpers to clear the site as rocks still fall from above the road, the report read.
Interestingly, it stated that the restoration work is expected to be complete by 5 pm on Nov. 2.
