Nihoto bridge.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 27
Road connectivity to Niuland sub division has became virtually inaccessible after two bridges and a culvert were swept away/damaged by the sudden downpour on Wednesday afternoon.
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Chuzaru Bridge below Patkai Christian College.[/caption]
Adding more woes to people residing across the Chathe Bridge, 4th Mile which was damaged by flood on July, a culvert, also called Balojan Bridge, along the main Niuland highway, was washed away by heavy rainfall, severing the main road link to Niuland area. The culvert is located between New Showuba and Vihokhu village.
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Damaged culvert near Kukidulong bridge, NH 29.[/caption]
Now, the only road link available to Niuland headquarter is from Kuhuboto via Yeveto, Ghokito and Hakhezhe villages among others. Kuhuboto EAC, Berimong speaking to The Morung Express however said the alternate road was in such a deplorable condition that only heavy vehicles can ply on it.
While it is not possible for small vehicles and passenger three wheelers to travel on the alternate road, even for heavy vehicles, it will take an hour or more to reach Niuland headquarter,” the EAC informed.
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Damaged culvert located between New Showuba and Vihokhu village.[/caption]
Thousands of citizens particularly villagers from more than 30 villages under Niuland subdivision will be severely affected by Wednesday’s damage to its main road link to Dimapur town.
A bridge at Nihoto village, which connect a road link to Niuland, was also washed away by Wednesday’s downpour. Though the bridge is not in the main Niuland road, it is used to connect Nihoto village from Dimapur via Aoyimti and Erallibill and was one of the shorter link roads used to reach Niuland since the Chathe Bridge collapse.
Another bridge, called the Chuzaru Bridge below Patkai Christian College ground was also rendered inaccessible after the Chuzaru stream overflowed and washed away large swathes of land surrounding the bridge.
The flooding also affected several homes located near the bridge. After the waters receded, residents were seen clearing the mud and sand from their homes – some of which were knee deep in water.
The Patkai-Seithekiema route has witnessed significant increase in vehicular traffic following the collapse of the Chathe Bridge at 4th Mile and this bridge serves as one of the link to Seithekiema and Niuland subdivision.
Earlier in July, The Morung Express had reported of fissures on a bridge about 250 metres upstream. This bridge was subsequently closed for heavy vehicles. Two months later, nothing has been done to repair or strengthen the bridge.
NH 29 traffic at a standstill
The unprecedented rain also caused road damage along the National Highway 29 near Kukidolong bridge bringing traffic to a standstill. Vehicles headed towards Kohima were seen stranded from near Check Gate to the Chumukedima Saturday Bazaar – a stretch of more than 5 kilometres.
A press statement from National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) informed that a culvert on Dimapur-Kohima road near KM 128 before reaching Kukidolong Bridge was washed away following heavy rains.
Vehicular movement along the national highway would only be one-way traffic and also not suitable for heavy loaded vehicles until the repairing and restoration process which is underway is completed, NHIDCL Deputy General Manager, Hage Tachang stated in the press release.
It has therefore requested the Deputy Commissioner Dimapur to deploy traffic police personnel on site to regulate the traffic so that restoration work can be completed at the earliest. It also requested that movement of heavy loaded vehicles is restricted untill the restoration process is complete.
