Imp-Toloi-Ukl road cut off, road sink on Imp-Jiri line repaired

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 24 : Vehicular movement along the Imphal–Jiribam Road (National Highway-37) was disrupted for some hours today after a section of the road sank at Shantikhunou in Tamenglong district while the Tadubi–Toloi–Ukhrul Road (National Highway 102A) remains cut off and is unlikely to reopen anytime soon.
Even as over 100 loaded trucks are still stranded along the route, Senapati Deputy Commissioner Dharun Kumar issued a notice informing that the stretch between Phaibung Khullen and Vaisiichu will be closed from June 27 to July 17.
Although the damaged stretch on the Imphal-Jiribam line was later repaired and light vehicles were allowed to resume movement, heavy-loaded trucks remain stranded along the route.
According to reports, the road sank by around 3 feet due to incessant rainfall.
Due to the condition of the road, plans to escort fuel tankers and other loaded trucks in two convoys by security personnel were cancelled.
NHIDCL and other work agencies swung into action from morning to repair the damaged portion of the road using heavy machinery.
Light vehicles were allowed to pass through the damaged section from around 1 pm, even as repair work was still underway.
However, the movement of heavy-loaded trucks has been halted due to the condition of the road.
According to sources, the road sank as water flowing beneath a culvert adjacent to the damaged stretch caused seepage, leading to the collapse of the road.
They said the damage could have been prevented had another culvert been constructed to allow water from beneath the existing structure to pass through and drain properly.
Meanwhile, 384 empty trucks and several passenger vehicles left Imphal for Jiribam today under the escort of two security convoys. It may be mentioned that drivers have been facing considerable difficulties while travelling along the Imphal-Jiribam road due to poor road conditions at multiple locations, including the stretches between Nungba and Rengpang, near Irang Bridge, Nungdolan to Kaiphundai, and Sibilong to Barak stretches. The sources added that the NHIDCL and other relevant agencies are engaged in repairing the road to facilitate the movement of loaded trucks from tomorrow onwards. In another setback, the Tadubi–Toloi–Ukhrul Road (National Highway 102A) remains cut off and is unlikely to reopen anytime soon. Even as over 100 loaded trucks are still stranded along the route, Senapati Deputy Commissioner Dharun Kumar issued a notice informing that the stretch between Phaibung Khullen and Vaisiichu will be closed from June 27 to July 17.