Out of gear

Torrential rains have started taking a toll on public infrastructure, especially roads, in hilly Arunachal Pradesh with unstable soil conditions, says a report in the Assam Tribune. Landslides, triggered by heavy rainfall, have been witnessed since last Saturday, with roads damaged and surface communication affected. Normal life has been thrown out of gear in the easternmost Anjaw district bordering China.

An official release stated that the all-important road connecting Hayuliang with the district headquarters of Hawai has been blocked after landslides hit the road between Lautul and Kherang. The road was later cleared.

Anjaw deputy commissioner Mamata Riba called for caution and urged all citizens of the district to avoid travelling till the heavy downpour subsides as there are recurrent landslides and unstable soil conditions.

In remote Kra Daadi district, surface connectivity along the Joram-Koloriang Road, the lifeline of the people of Lower Subansiri, Kra Daadi and Kurung Kumey districts, has been disrupted after a portion of the road was completely washed away near Tassar village due to incessant rain. The Kra Daadi district administration has made a temporary diversion for plying of light vehicles. However, the road is not yet fit for plying of heavy vehicles.

Traffic movement along the Hoj-Potin Road was also disrupted following landslides at various locations due to incessant rain. Massive landslides occurred at Kala Mitti point between the Hoj and Potin stretch of the Trans-Arunachal Highway and a few other locations due to which hundreds of vehicles, including buses and private vehicles were stranded for hours together on Wednesday. However, there was no report of any casualty. The road was partially restored later in the day for vehicular traffic.

Chipping in

A team of six Assam Rifles has been deployed in Urupkeirao and Lilong Arapti, Manipur, to rescue hundreds of people trapped by flood waters of the Imphal River as the overall flood situation turned critical due to heavy rains over the last few days, says a report in the Imphal Free Press.

Divided into two teams, the Assam Rifles of Lilong coy and Canchipur coy lead by Captain Shubhas Anal rescued more than 200 people using boats. They acted immediately on the requisition to save precious lives and property and to help in evacuation of villagers including children, elders and women.

The villagers were provided with food packets, drinking water, tents and shelter. Assam Rifles is closely working with the civil administration of Manipur to provide immediate relief and rescue operation.

Cut off

A huge portion of the NH 54 that runs through Serchhip town, the headquarters of Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla’s constituency, was washed away by landslide last week, says a report in the Guwahati-based Assam Tribune. The landslide has cut off the important town in central Mizoram and several villages in southern Mizoram. Earlier, the Serchhip-Thenzawl Road was cut off by a landslide.

“A huge portion of the hillock went down, wiping out about 100 metres of the road. It will take months to rebuild the highway. Residents of several houses on the outskirts of the town were also evacuated due to the landslip,” Kapliana Pachuau, a senior journalist from Serchhip, said.

The state has witnessed incessant downpours on Monday causing landslides and floods in several parts. Official sources said 200 houses in Tlabung town near the Indo-Bangladesh border have been submerged by the rising waters of Khawthlangtuipui (also known as Karnaphuli river), rendering more than 300 families homeless. The affected families are sheltered in the town’s community hall and schools.