Manipur schedules helicopter service between Imphal and Ukhrul

IMPHAL — Manipur government has scheduled helicopter services between Imphal and Ukhrul in view of the prevailing situation along the Imphal–Ukhrul stretch of National Highway 202.

According to a press release issued by the state Transport department, daily helicopter services on the Imphal–Ukhrul–Imphal sector will commence from March 14 and continue until March 18.

The schedule includes two sorties each on March 14 and 18, and one sortie each on March 15 and 17. No helicopter service will operate on March 16, the release stated.

Passengers have been advised to carry minimal luggage, limited to 7 kg per person.

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The arrangement comes after Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing wrote to the chief minister requesting helicopter services between Imphal and Ukhrul on a daily basis with the maximum possible number of sorties.

In his letter, Keishing said residents of Ukhrul were facing serious difficulties in road travel, causing significant inconvenience, particularly for patients requiring urgent medical attention, due to the prevailing situation in Litan and adjoining areas.

Earlier, Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah had also written to the state Transport director seeking emergency helicopter services between Imphal–Ukhrul and Imphal–Kamjong on a daily basis.

Muivah requested the operation of three to four sorties daily until traffic movement on NH-202 is restored in the interest of public service.

The development comes amid fresh tensions in Ukhrul district, where incidents of firing reportedly led to the deaths of two villagers from Thawai Kuki, along with a reported hostage situation involving 21 Tangkhul Naga villagers.

As a result, commuters have been unable to travel along the Imphal–Ukhrul road, particularly around Mongkot Chepu and Shangkai areas, for the past two days.