Large stretch of NH-39 washed away near Kohima, communication snapped, trucks stranded
CRPF rises to the challenge, assures to escort oil tankers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 20 2010: Over 135 oil tankers, currently stranded along the National Highway-39 due to the land-slide near Kohima, would be brought to Imphal with CRPF personnel providing the security escort, according to an IOC official.

Compounding the matter, another fresh landslide has occured near Kisima village which is located between Mao and Kohima .A large portion of the highway was washed away on August 17 evening near Kohima after heavy showers in Kohima district.

Commissioner and Secretary of Roads and Bridges (PWD) said that a portion of 174.5 km has been completely washed away by landslide.

Despite all efforts being put in by the BROP to repair the affected part, it is likely to take some time as restoration work would depend on the weather conditions.

A view of the washed away portion of NH-39 by heavy landslide near Kohima-NNN

Following the 'disappearance', of a large stretch of the highway, over 400 trucks laden with essential commodities, bound for other parts of Nagaland and Manipur have been left stranded.

The District Administration had allowed light vehicles through Jotsoma village to come to Kohima.

Owing to the snap of the supply lines, prices of essentials commodities have shot up.

On the other hand, DIGP CRPF (Imphal) PS Rajora in a statement issued today maintained that CRPF will be providing escort and security to the vehicles between Mao Gate and Imphal at the pre-fixed timing.

In the wake of the landslide between Zubza and Kohima, movement of vehicles along NH-39 has been temporarily suspended till such time the repairs and reconstruction work is completed, the DIGP said while conveying that all the vehicles stranded at the landslide point have been ordered by the State administration to move away from the said point as these vehicles are causing obstruction to vehicles carrying material for repair of the highway.

While pointing out that BRTF is working on a war footing to reconstruct the Highway, PS Rajora also reasoned that CRPF convoy did not start from imphal to avoid stagnation midway and to prevent congestion of local vehicles.

With regard to security and escort provision upto Mao Gate and back to Imphal, he said vehicles destined for Kohima or places beyond, can join the said convoy and that vehicles at Mao Gate can also join the return convoy sometime in the afternoon.

The DIGP also advised all concerned not to join the convoy in case they are heading to Dimapur as vehicular traffic through the landslide affect zone is not feasible at the moment.

It is informed that resumption of normal vehicular traffic through the landslide affected zone along the Imphal-Dimapur section of National Highway 39 would take atleast 5-6 days and as such arrangement had been made to escort the stranded tankers via the by-pass route.

As per information provided by the IOC official, the stranded tankers would be escorted upto Mao Gate by CRPF personnel stationed in Nagaland section of the Highway and from Mao Gate similar security arrangement would be made by the para-military force companies stationed in Manipur.

Moreover, empty tankers would be escorted to refinery centres in Assam on the same route under similar arrangement, said the IOC official.

On the otherhand, another informed source disclosed that Sangaiprou godown of State's Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has 6464 metric tonne of rice stock and 94 metric tonne sugar whereas Food Corporation of india's storage houses at the same place has run out of rice stock.

However, Ukhrul godown of the FCI at present is stocked with 2392 metric tonne rice and 2390 metric tonne at its Jiribam godown compared to availability of 426 metric tonne of the essential commodity at the CAF&PD godown in the Imphal East sub-divisional headquarters.

Children schooling : In collaboration with Mega Manipur School Yaralpat, the department of Clinical Psychology, RIMS is conducting two days' workshop on "Understanding of Children Schooling on August 21 and 22, conveyed a press release.