Monday, August 18, 2014

Landslides cut off Barak Valley, Tripura, Mizoram

Landslides on national highways in Meghalaya and Assam's Dima Hasao district have cut off the Barak Valley, Tripura and Mizoram for the last 30 hours.

Reports said trees, boulders and mud came down the hills on NH-6 connecting Silchar with Shillong at Tansen in East Jayantia Hills district of Meghalaya, 95 km from here, on Saturday.

On the other hand, NH-54 (Extension) connecting Silchar with Haflong experienced similar landslide at Durbin near Harangajao in Dima Hasao district of Assam. Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks, buses and cars have remained stranded on the highways. The affected areas are facing shortage of food and there is hardly any scope for transshipment in both the places.

Authorities said that although Border Roads Task Force and PWD men are engaged in clearing the debris, torrential rain has triggered frequent landslides in the same places and adjoining areas. Sources on Monday said small vehicles are slowly moving through the landslide-hit areas of Meghalaya. The disruption of road connectivity has triggered rise in prices of essential commodities in markets across the Barak Valley and Mizoram.