Landslide strands trucks along NH-37

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 16 : Vehicular movement along National Highway-37 (Imphal–Jiribam) was disrupted today after a landslide occurred at Kaiphundai in Tamenglong district.
Moreover, several loaded trucks and oil tankers that departed Jiribam on July 13 are yet to reach Imphal, as landslide debris at multiple locations along the highway remains uncleared, causing prolonged disruption to traffic.
According to reports, today's landslide occurred at Agaro Mile near Kaiphundai while around 300 oil tankers and loaded trucks, escorted by two security convoys, were travelling along the route.
Only four to five vehicles managed to cross the landslide-affected stretch, following which the escort convoys returned to Jiribam, the reports added.
Even as the NHIDCL swung into action to clear the debris, no heavy vehicles could cross the landslide-affected stretch till the evening.
The reports, however, maintained that vehicular movement is expected to resume tomorrow, with the debris likely to be cleared by midnight.
Meanwhile, empty oil tankers and trucks escorted by two security convoys, which left Imphal today, remained stranded at Noney and Awangkhul due to poor road conditions.
It is also reported that several loaded trucks and oil tankers travelling from Jiribam to Imphal on Monday were stranded at Noney for two days following a landslide at Nungkao in Tamenglong district.
The stranded vehicles resumed their journey towards Imphal from today.
In view of the difficulties faced by drivers and transporters, transport bodies urged the Government to expedite the clearance of landslide debris along National Highway-37 and repair the damaged stretches of the highway.