Morung Express News
Dimapur/Tuensang | August 21
Although local media focus is on the land slide along the Kohima stretch of NH-39, nevertheless landslides and land-subsidence due to incessant monsoon rains have disrupted normal lives in most parts of Nagaland, especially Tuensang district, with the state’s public transport timing going haywire in this interior district.
Almost all roads in Tuensang district including those connecting the district headquarters have become unpliable for both the Nagaland State Transport (NST) buses and private vehicles. Some of the roads worst hit by landslides and land-sinking are Tuensang-Shamatore road, Noklak-Tuensang road, Kiphire-Tuensang road and Tuensang-Mokokchung road. Tickets bought at NST Tuensang station are subject to last minute confirmation depending on the road condition. NST officials are also in constant touch with drivers on the routes for necessary backup in case of vehicle breakdown or other mechanical failures.
On Tuesday, vehicles plying on the Mokokchung-Tuensang road were stranded for than 15 hours near the Dikhu Bridge under Mokokchung district due to mudslides and sinking caused by rains. Many truck and bus drivers and stranded passengers who spend the night in the middle of the jungle had to endure the bites of mosquitoes and other insects. There were also many who were forced the night on empty stomach. Some of the passengers fortunate enough to carry biscuits and chips and bottled water, shared their meager meal with the co-passengers.
Even in Tuensang town, a couple of roads have to be cleared daily due to mudslides. On Thursday morning, the Kohima-bound NST bus left Tuensang station around 9.30 am, three hours behind schedule due to mudslides near GREF camp, some 3km from the station.
There are also worries that some weak bridges including the Dikhu Bridge (Mokokchung-Tuensang) and Mangaki-Yanli Bridge might collapse or give way anytime. The NST officials at Tuensang are undergoing a harrowing time as they are facing the brunt of public ire over cancellation and re-scheduling of bus service. Assistant general manager, NST Tuensang, L Lithrongse Sangtam told this correspondent on Thursday that the department was trying its best to provide bus service to the passengers despite the poor road conditions.
The loudest complaint comes from public plying the Noklak-Tuensang road. NST officials said the NST stopped its service on this route since last week of June due to deplorable road condition at many stretches, mainly at the Sikiur-Yai Bridge.
“Last time we tried to ply this route was when the public said the road condition had improved. But after crossing halfway, the road condition was so bad that the bus could not proceed any further. Another mudslide occurred in between and the bus could not return to Tuensang also. Our driver had to spend three days and nights alone in the jungle,” Lithrongse said.
He also said another reason why the NST could not resume the Noklak-Tuensang service was because the semi-deluxe bus plying that route was under repair. “We will resume the service as son as the bus is repaired and the road is pliable,” the AGM assured.
It may be mentioned that the vehicular traffic on NH-39 connecting the state capital Kohima has been disrupted for over a month due to aggravation of the sinking zone near the Kohima municipal dumping site. With the rainy season, stranded, capsized and vehicles turned turtle is a common sight in most of the roads and highways.
