Nagaland: Dimapur-Kohima NH 29 remains blocked

Dimapur: The Dimapur-Kohima NH 29 near Dzüdza bridge under Sech? Zubza sub-vision in Nagaland's Kohima district remained blocked till Tuesday due to massive landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in the past few days, impacting traffic and the supply of essential commodities.

The Kohima District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) convened an emergency meeting at the Kohima District Planning and Development Board hall on Tuesday to address the landslides on NH 29.

Kohima DC Kumar Ramnikant, who chaired the meeting, said the Sechü-Zubza SDO (C), along with village authorities and personnel of the contractor concerned, had inspected the upper reaches of the landslide area and submitted a report.

He said a committee with ADC and CEO, DDMA, Rhosietho Nguori as its chairman has been formed to visit and monitor the affected area.

Following the assessment, the committee will draft a plan to mitigate the occurrence of continuous landslides and submit a report for further action by higher authorities, Ramnikant said.

The meeting prioritised the need to channelize traffic, particularly for trucks carrying essential commodities, fuel, and medicines. Additionally, the teams were asked to visit stranded trucks and provide basic assistance to truckers in need.

Reports said hundreds of heavy transport vehicles remained stranded on the route till Tuesday.

The DC directed all agencies concerned to maintain other used roads properly for commuters.

In a travel advisory earlier, DC Ramnikant said blockage of NH-29 from chainage KM 163 980 to KM 164 030 (RHS) near Dzüdza bridge and that restoration work on the road may require days/week. He advised all commuters travelling by light vehicles from Kohima to Dimapur to take the Jotsoma-Khonoma-Mezoma-Sechüma-Sechü Zubza road and Dzüdza Bridge-Mezo Basa-Sechüma-Sechü Zubza road.

The Dimapur to Kohima-bound vehicles have been asked to take the Peducha Bridge-Tsiesema (10 Mile Road).

The DC also advised all commuters to plan their journey accordingly and extend full cooperation.

He had also issued an evacuation order for residents and shop owners in the affected area, saying the worsening landslide could cause further damage.

Though the authorities struggled to restore the route, incessant rain severely hampered restoration efforts.

According to reports, the road was briefly opened on Monday night for stranded vehicles to pass. However, a fresh wave of mudslide covered the route later, blocking it again.

Meanwhile, the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) said the state will experience cloudy heavy rainfall in almost all the districts till August 25.

In its weather update on Tuesday, the NSDMA said these showers may be accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places.

It asked people to take necessary precautionary measures during this time and exercise caution from lightning strikes and gale winds which may disrupt communication and connectivity.

Due to the likelihood of excessive precipitation in the hill sector, the state’s lowland and foothill regions, including Dimapur, Nuiland, Chumukedima, Bhandari, Pangti, Tizit, and Tuli, are likely to be impacted by inundated water-logging and flash floods.