Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 9
Unrelenting rainfall continued to hamper road clearing works on July 9 at the Yajang A - Yajang C stretch of the Japukong range road falling under Mangkolemba sub-division in Mokokchung district. Multiple landslides, which started occurring since June 24 along the Japukong range road had cut-off over 10 villages in the range from the rest of the state.
According to the ADC, Mangkolemba, the PWD assisted by the Nagaland State Disaster Management personnel were able to clear the road till Yajang A village as on Sunday. Landslides in as many as 47 spots, including minor ones, occurred in various spots along the entire 48 km stretch of the Japukong road between Japu village and Yajang ‘C’ over the past 2 weeks affecting essential supplies to villages.
Work is still ongoing to clear mudslides between Yajang A and Yajang ‘C’ the ADC informed, adding that 19 mudslides occurred in that stretch alone. One in particular out of the 19, as per the ADC, was “very big” and would require additional and heavier machinery. “Some minors ones the villagers have managed to clear,” he added.
The Japukong range road is regarded as very crucial because of its proximity to the disputed border belt with Assam. It links Mangkolemba ADC headquarters with Tuli with over 10 villages, including Longchem EAC headquarters in between.
This road was stated to have been last tarred in the early 1980s and was under the care of the BRO before it was taken over by the state PWD in 2004.
An alternate route to Assam via Longchem EAC headquarters is also blocked. In this 15km road linking Longchem with Mariani in Assam via Saring border village, the ADC informed that multiple landslides have occurred, while a bridge was washed away.
Shortage of earth-moving machinery is slowing the progress as only 2 excavators are in operation – one for the Longchem-Saring link road and the other for the entire stretch Japukong range road. The ADC further expressed apprehension that if the rainfall continues more mudslides would occur in the areas already cleared.
