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Vehicles in queue at an oil service station near Old Check Post, Kohima, on May 19.[/caption]
Kohima, May 19 (EMN): In what appeared to be inevitable effect of the road blockade caused by the landslide at Peducha, the State capital experienced shortage of fuel as the oil depots in and around the town ran out of fuel today.
Ever since the landslide occurred on National Highway 39 near Peducha, the flow of vehicular movement was disrupted particularly the heavy commercial vehicles. And this, indeed, has stopped the oil tankers from not passing beyond the landslide zone.
The news about the shortage of fuel alarmed the vehicle owners residing in the town, who rushed to the nearest oil depots to fill their tanks. According to sources, it was reported that there were long queues in almost all the fuel stations in and around Kohima and as far as the oil depot at Old Check Post.
Sources further said some of the depots were closed even by afternoon as the fuel ran out of stock.
Talking to
Eastern Mirror, Akho Neikha, proprietor of Theja Service Station, Kiruphema, informed that the shortage was due to the road blockade as the oil tankers could not pass through. Confirming about the fuel shortage, Neikha has requested the district administration and traffic personnel to give priority to the oil tankers so as to avoid similar situation in the near future.
As was seen at the landslide area during the past couple of days, many trucks carrying essential commodities were allowed to pass through with the support of excavators. However, not many oil tankers were seen crossing the landslide portion. And this may have resulted to shortage of fuel in the service stations here in the State capital.
A police officer on duty at the site informed that the road blockade has been partially lifted.
The Superintendent of Police, Kohima, on Thursday, had imposed a new traffic regulation for travellers between Kohima and Dimapur. There was total blockade on NH 39 between Sechü Zubza and Peducha in order to repair the landslide portion yesterday, but it was partially lifted today.
With the new traffic regulation, alternate routes have been provided for smaller vehicles via Kiruphema and another road via 10th Mile, Tsiesema. However, the heavy commercial vehicles have been forced to stay on as it is impossible for them to pass through the narrow village roads.
Apart from fuel, it is likely that the prices of essential commodities could also escalate if the flow of commercial vehicles continues to be disrupted due to the landslide.
Gayatri Project Ltd has been working 24X7 to repair the road ever since the landslide occurred. Around seven to eight excavators have been pushed into service but the progress of the work was also hindered due to incessant rain.
Meanwhile, president of Kiruphema Youth Organisation, Kezevilie Hojha has requested the traffic police personnel and staff of district administration to stop bigger vehicles, including government and private buses, from plying the narrow village roads until the day the new traffic regulation is lifted.
With too many vehicles opting to take the alternate routes, Hojha said entry of big and heavy vehicles in the same route has caused more problems and even delayed the passage of smaller vehicles.
