Manipur: Landslide cuts off vehicular movement

IMPHAL, July 9 (EMN): Due to the landslides and sinking of highways connecting Manipur’s state capital with the rest of the country, movement of goods and passengers buses particularly the heavy vehicles have been severely affected here in the north eastern state today. The sinking of Imphal-Jiribam sector National Highway 37 took place at a location (measuring around 60 feet) in between Sinam and Laijang villages about 35 km west this morning while heavy landslide took place at Lalmati sector of the National Highway 2 near Kohima, reports said. In view of the state of affairs nearly 200 goods trucks mostly rice laden trucks were stranded along the NH 37.On the other hand more than 50 Manipur bound oil tankers returned to Khatkhati in Assam after they reach landslide hit Lalmati area, reports added. Now the state authority has restricted movement of vehicles along NH 37 in order to fasten road repairing works. Similarly road construction and clearing of the landslide area are also reportedly on at Lalmati area in Nagaland. The concerned officials have been pressed into to speed up the road repairing works. Movement of heavy vehicles at Mao sector of National Highway 2 was once banned for two days on July 4 and 5 following landslide at Mao area, about 110 km north of Imphal. The landslide at Thanlon area in Churachandpur district also reportedly affected the vehicular movement as the rain continues to create havoc even during the repairing works. Unfortunately some houses have been reportedly destroyed due to landslide at Langol Laimanai near Imphal this morning. Manipur have been suffering from floods, landslides and storms for the last two months due to unpredicted rain accompanied by strong wind and heavy rainfall as Mora cyclone hit the state in May. Considering the situation, Manipur government had even declared the disaster as ‘State Calamity.’ Meanwhile state Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh accompanied by parliamentary secretaries Sushindro (Home), Dr Ranjan(Tourism) and Indrajit (MAHUD) on Sunday inspected the flood affected areas in Imphal East district where more than 14,000 hectares of paddy fields are under water. Speaking to media on the sideline of the day’s visit, Chief Minister Biren said the government is yet to figure out the exact number of houses and villages that have been affected by flood as more and more areas have been inundated in the last few days. According to official reports, about 40,000 hectares of agricultural land which is about 20 percent of Manipur’s total agriculture area (1.95 lakh hectares) which include 7,700 hectares in Imphal West, 9,000 hectares in Thoubal, 9,210 hectares in Bishnupur and 20 hectares in Ukhrul was affected by floods. On Saturday too Biren and works minister Th Biswajit also inspected the flood hit homesteads and agricultural areas of Imphal East and Thoubal districts.