Mokokchung–Mariani highway reopens after landslide clearance

MOKOKCHUNG — The Mokokchung–Mariani road (NH-702D) has been fully restored to traffic following round-the-clock operations by the Public Works department and on-site contractors, who cleared over 20 landslides that struck the stretch on October 1.

Noktiensha Imsong, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO)-IV under Division-II of Mokokchung PWD (NH), reported that the landslides disrupted the 0–31 km stretch covering Changki, Longtho, and New Camp areas, severing links between Mokokchung and neighboring districts to Mariani in Assam.

By afternoon on October 1, nearly 90% of the slides had been addressed. However, another three major landslides around 4 pm between the 39–44 km points near Changki X-Junction further hampered progress, Imsong explained.

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In response, the deputy commissioner’s office issued a late-night advisory enforcing a complete ban on vehicular movement—both heavy and light—along the affected stretch below Changki village until full restoration.

Clearance efforts were complicated by massive boulders entangled in the debris, with loosened rocks posing risks of rolling downhill toward the winding road and nearby settlements, Imsong shared.

Deploying heavy machinery, teams worked from opposite directions around the clock. The highway was finally declared open for all traffic at approximately 10.30 am on Thursday.