Landslides cut off Imphal-Jiri Road

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 20: Landslides triggered by continuous rainfall since Sunday have cut off National Highway-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) stranding hundreds of vehicles.
Two landslides occurred at Awangkhul and Shanti Khunou today.
The landslide at Awangkhul under Noney district occurred early this morning, and the landslide at Shanti Khunou under Tamenglong district occurred at around 2 pm.
The landslide at Shanti Khunou occurred while vehicles were transiting the area.
Large boulders and debris struck an empty truck which carried it some feet before being saved by an electric post from rolling down the steep slope. The driver was unhurt.
Even as the NHIDCL has started work to clear debris, hundreds of vehicles have been stranded at several places including Noney, Shanti Khunou, Awangkhul and Khongsang.
Traffic may not resume until the debris is cleared.
The vehicles stranded at several stretches of the highway include at least 65 tankers carrying fuel and 85 loaded goods trucks which left Jiribam for Imphal on Saturday.
Dozens of loaded vehicles which had departed Khongsang railway station for Imphal have also been stranded at the Khongsang police station area.
As many as 373 empty trucks and tankers which left Imphal for Jiribam on Sunday are also stuck at several stretches of the highway.
Notably, there were no security escort operations on Monday and Tuesday.
At present, around 700 tankers carrying fuel and goods laden trucks are stuck at Jiribam, and at least 300 in-bound loaded vehicles are stranded at neighbouring regions of Assam.
With landslides stopping traffic on NH-37, and NH-2 remaining shut due to blockade imposed by civil bodies, transportation of goods by road has come to a complete halt, raising concern about possible shortage of essential items and rising prices.