GUWAHATI:
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) regional officer Alok Kumar on May 21 said that it will take more than 35 days to restore the highways for the movement of heavy traffic in Dima Hasao, though movement of light traffic have been allowed.
While the road stretch from Lumding to Halong has been restored for light passenger and light commercial vehicles from May 17, the Maibang tunnel which was full of mud was also cleared on the same day.
Stating that Jatinga to Harangajao traffic could not be restored due to a breach of highway in six locations having five-metre to 30 metres, he said, “It will more than seven to eight days to restore the road traffic depending on weather conditions.”
Kumar while stating that the restoration process will take time because of the rainy season, also mentioned that the situation is being observed. “Now, we have to construct a 30-metre culvert in place of a 10-meter culvert constructed earlier,” he said.
He also pointed that the course of the rivers has to be controlled for restoration of road connectivity because, in the present situation, construction of the heavy structure is not possible due to flash floods during the rainy season.
Kumar said that this time, 80 per cent of the East-West Corridor was damaged in 27 locations due to landslides and flash floods.
From Lumding to Jatinga, the two-lane highway has been damaged in three to four locations from 50 to 100 metre stretches due to the collapse of the retaining wall, Kumar also said.
At one location, Kalachand one major bridge collapsed, which has been temporarily repaired, he also said.
Landslides have affected 50 locations of the highway from Lumnding to Nriambaglo Section of the highway.
“The construction of road stretch from Harangajao to Nriambaglo has been awarded to a group M/S HEM Construction at Rs 1,900 crore,” he further said.
Even as the roads have been opened for light vehicles many interior villages are yet to be reached out as the roads communication has been snapped due to landslides and flash floods.
From Jatinga to Miyungkro, voluminous flow of water, erosion of embankment along with washout of road subgrade materials in 15-20 metre due to which the road was settled in 80m.
From Jatinga-Retzawl, landslide material & branches of Trees have fallen down in the road and covered more than half of the road.
In Retzawl, landslide material from the hillside covered the road section. Overflow of water in the drains and excess water is flowing through the road.
Landslide Material including boulders, and debris has entirely covered the existing road. Landslide material has blocked the inlet of the already installed pipe culvert and hence it is unable to carry the heavy stream discharge coming from the hillside.
The road stretch here has become extremely vulnerable as a large part of the soil has already slid down with a possibility to slide even further due to damage of the embankment.
The embankment soil has already got detached from the shoulder of the road and it has developed a severe rain cut. The location has become vulnerable as the detached embankment may slide down at any time.
At Jatinga Lampur, a landslide and voluminous flow of water from the hillside, resulting in an overflow of water, has entirely damaged around 150-170 m of the existing road. About half portion of the road has been washed out. Strong discharge is still flowing through the road. Big boulders fell from the hillside.
A severe crack has been developed in the centre of the bituminous surface and seepage of the water through the crack portion was noticed. Moreover, the embankment was completely damaged and about half of the road section has been washed-out.
At Chainage No 190.000 of Jatinga Lampur, the embankment on the valley side has suffered heavy erosion and it has taken apart a large portion of the road. A strong current of water flowing over the road continuously has already done large scale damage to the road. Broken pieces of boulders lying over the entire road. Now, this portion of the road has been completely washed out about a length of 80m.
Landslide Material has covered the entire road for 100 m stretches. Further, landslide material, debris and broken pieces of boulders lying on the road. Moreover, an embankment along with the shoulder and part of the road is damaged.
At Miyungkro, the road has been settled down due to damage of the embankment and shoulder. In addition to this, the surface of a stretch of 125-130 m has developed excessive cracks and settled and this portion is completely damaged.
At Chainage No 197.150, of Miyungkro, a section of 30-40 m has been washed away completely by a strong wave of the river and cut the further road connectivity to Kapurchera Village. Although there is a Hume pipe culvert which is also partially washed out.
The road stretch from Kapurcherra to Boro Narainpur was also damaged due to massive landslides and flash floods.
More than half of the Kapurcherra Minor Bridge has been collapsed by a massive amount of discharge with a strong current of flow coming from upstream thus halting the further road connectivity. It has also damaged the already installed HPC in the location, hence there is no proper means of cross drainage facility in the location.
The height of the debris is approx 4m and spread over the length ofapprox.50m. Excavator, JCB and Dumper have been engaged for clearing of blockage.
Repairing/construction of Hume pipe culvert can be started only after the restoration of road connectivity.
In Boro Mualkai also, a strong current of water flowing from the upstream has washed away a section of 35-40m of the road including the HPC installed causing a complete loss of road connectivity between Rekho Village and Boro Mulkoi village.
The massive amount of discharge has already caused erosion in the embankment of the remaining section of the road on both sides thus endangering its stability and durability.
In Rekho, water flowing from the upstream has washed away 35-40 m of the road including the HPC causing a complete loss of road connectivity between Rekho Village and Dolaichunga Village.
Another 50-60 m of the road was also washed away by floodwater causing a complete loss of road connectivity between Doliadisa Village and Boro Narainpur village.
The massive amount of discharge has already caused erosion in the embankment of the remaining section of the road on both sides thus endangering its stability and durability. Further, the existing gabion wall has been completely damaged and shifted towards the valley side. Immediate restoration work needs to be started to avoid further erosion.