Motorist plunges to death in unfenced pit on NH-2 Negligence finger pointed at NHIDCL

Our Correspondent
KANGPOKPI, Oct 26 : A man was killed last night after falling into an unfenced pit while riding his motorcycle near Keithelmanbi Military Colony, sparking widespread outrage among residents and commuters along National Highway-2.
The fatal accident has been attributed to alleged negligence by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), which failed to secure the site with proper barricades.
The deceased, identified as Paogoumang Kipgen, a resident of Haipi village, reportedly fell into a deep pit left without a barricade by NHIDCL workers near Keithelmanbi Military Colony last night around 6 pm.
He was coming from Kangpokpi side.
The pit, excavated as part of NHIDCL's ongoing road-widening project, lacked any warning signs, barricades, or reflectors, rendering it dangerously invisible in the darkness.
Kangpokpi police retrieved the body and transported it to the District Hospital, where a doctor pronounced him dead on arrival.
This is not an isolated case.
Similar incidents have repeatedly occurred along the same stretch of the highway, particularly around Keithelmanbi and Kalapahar areas.
On previous occasions, three members of the Eimi Riders reportedly fell into similar pits on several occasions, escaping with minor injuries, while several other civilians from Keithelmanbi and Kholjang areas have suffered near-fatal accidents and vehicle damage — all due to the absence of basic safety measures.
Early Sunday morning, a Tata truck loaded with bricks also fell into another pit near the same location.
Despite persistent complaints and visible danger, NHIDCL has allegedly remained a mute spectator, showing no urgency to address the alarming safety lapses along the construction zone.
Commuters accused the agency of utter negligence and disregard for human life, pointing out that not a single functional safety reflector, caution sign, or barricade has been installed at hazardous points.
Locals further lamented the clouds of dust engulfing the highway, blaming NHIDCL for failing to carry out regular sprinkling of water despite the unbearable conditions faced by daily commuters.
“If NHIDCL had taken minimal responsibility and ensured proper safety signage, this precious young life could have been saved,” a commuter from Keithelmanbi remarked, calling the tragedy “a preventable disaster caused by negligence.”
Till the time of filing this report, the lifeless body of the victim remains unclaimed at the District Hospital, Kangpokpi.
It was reported that officials of NHIDCL and the Village Authority of Haipi have been engaging in talks to resolve the issue.
Residents have demanded immediate accountability from the construction agency and warned that further inaction could lead to more preventable deaths along the highway.