Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 10
Twenty days after the National Highway-29 was cut-off completely for vehicular traffic near Phesama due to a massive landslide in the area, the BRTF personnel at work on the site have cleared the debris to some extent and the authorities on Wednesday gave a green signal for vehicles to ply the road on a trial basis.
The landslide has adversely affected the NH-29 along Dimapur-Kohima-Mao (DKM) Sector, which connects Nagaland and Manipur, and a complete closure of vehicular movement on this road has been announced on August 20 last.
When contacted, BRTF officer in charge 89 RCC, AEE PK Singh who has been overseeing the works at the landslide area, confirmed that about a hundred vehicles including 64 Manipur-bound oil tankers carrying a maximum weight of 20 tonnes were allowed to pass on Wednesday with cautionary measures in place. The official informed that though the road being opened for vehicular passage is yet to be announced officially, light vehicles will be allowed to ply with caution. He expressed concern over the breakaway of the highway about 100m before the landslide area at Phesama Bus Stand which has narrowed the road by about 3m.The BRTF is said to be taking some measures on this narrowed portion of road and while light vehicles are being allowed to pass, their appeal is that their ongoing works at the site should not suffer.
The passage is reported to have been made possible owing to favourable weather for the last 2-3 days. The authorities are optimistic that if this weather condition holds, regular traffic flow can resume soon. It is estimated that about 1200 public service vehicles including trucks, buses, schools and college buses ply daily on this highway on normal days along with a threefold number of light vehicles.
The landslide has affected life in Southern Angami areas and the neighbouring Manipur, but the worst brunt was borne by the Phesama villagers. At least 250 people are reportedly displaced while around 50 houses were completely damaged, besides damage to the land topography and farmland of the villagers.
