- KOHIMA — The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court
has granted the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation
Ltd. (NHIDCL) three weeks to submit a proposal for restoring the collapsed
stretch of National Highway 2 near the Kisama exit gate.
- The direction came during the hearing of a suo moto Public
Interest Litigation (PIL) on Wednesday, where NHIDCL’s counsel informed the
bench that an expert panel is being formed to assess and recommend restoration
measures for the washed-out section, spanning approximately 100 metres
(Chainage No. 191+950 to 192+0.50) under Phesama village.
A section of National Highway-2 near Kisama which collapsed
following heavy rainfall. (EM Images)
- In their affidavit filed on Wednesday, NHIDCL stated that 56.25%
of the total work had been completed. Blacktopping with Dense Bituminous
Macadam (DBM) was done over most of the Wet Mix Macadam (WMM) layer, except for
two spots totalling about 300 metres, which could not be completed due to early
monsoon rains.
- “However, the complete stretch is motorable in good traffic
worthy condition.”
- Citing rainfall data from the Kohima Meteorological
Observatory, it highlighted that persistent unseasonal rainfall further delayed
the work. It said that rainfall was recorded on five days in March, 12 days in
April, and 21 days in May, affecting bituminous works not only on the days with
rain but also for 1-2 consecutive days as works cannot be carried out during
unfavourable weather conditions and damp road conditions.
Also read: Nagaland-Manipur lifeline severed as NH-2 collapses near Kisama
- It further submitted that the subsidence near Kisama exit
gate “has been triggered due to heavy rainfall in the region amalgamated with
series of post-impact tremors of earthquake reported in wee hours of 28.05.2025
that shook the north-eastern parts of India, including Nagaland.”
