As soon as Spring hits, Summer is sold to us in the form of a new summer wardrobe, sandals, sunglasses, hats, what have you. The people who benefit the most from the summer months are the fashion industry. It is a great opportunity to sell new items, new collections and literally make a splash in what is relatively a short season. They certainly cash in on it promising us lazy days in the sun with the music of insects and birds in the background. (Even book publishers are joining the club with light reading recommendations for new books). The truth is a little uglier. Summers are starting earlier, getting more dangerous weatherwise in terms of floods and heat waves and such hazards. Temperatures have been very high, beyond many degrees of human comfort. This is summer, the truth about summer. Sad fact. Perhaps we should rather be preparing to be safe from extreme weather situations. Disaster management can be prioritised so that when natural disasters strike, we are better prepared to handle it. Other countries worry about tsunamis and volcanoes, which are so terrifying that we can only be grateful to the Almighty we don’t live anywhere near the ocean. One sees on mainstream media, if the news is to be believed (in these days of artificial intelligence) many are the houses being destroyed and lives lost. And that brings us to our own experience of summer, and incessant rains and road damage. This question always comes to mind: Can anything possibly be done about Pakala Pahar?
They did do something about El Paso, the narrow pass where half of people travelling the Dimapur -Kohima highway liked to stop and take selfies, and feel brave about it. Not many months ago, they decided it was a hazard to public life and levelled it down to a manageable height. Not heard anything about that pass again. I wonder how much of that road work was based on a real threat to public safety. Nevertheless, carrying out a cautionary action to that extent must be appreciated. And it gives hope for Pakala Pahar. Could the same action be taken against Pakala Pahar? Level it so that motorists no longer have to drive in fear of falling rocks that kill. How far this is doable remains to be seen But for non-practitioners of roadworks, it seems like it would be a good solution. The stories continue to grow every year, and lives continue to be lost when falling giant rocks take their toll on human lives at that treacherous point. How feasible would this solution be? Hope someone thinks of trying it. What a name. Pakala Pahar. The crazy hills. Only in Nagamese the full import of the term comes alive. It simply grows in pakalaness year by year. Hope its lethal instincts can be permanently checked.
I know we have a hard time of it when summer hits us in all her fury. But at least we have some alternate roads. I travelled once to Dimapur by the most circuitous route. It started from Dos mile, towards the north of Kohima, over non-black topped roads for quite a long time before climbing up from a river bed to the main highway. After a few miles of riding on good roads, we had to take a detour, probably at Jharnapani, and veer off towards Jalukie on largely dirt roads in those days. Even then, we were so grateful alternate roads existed to take us to our destination, we did not mind the time invested. Unfortunately, it is not for everyone. Motorists still risk the petulance of the Pakala Pahar areas. Last winter we saw a section of road along the old Darjeeling road that had slid many meters below the present road level.The Teesta in Sikkim too played its role in sweeping away portions of the highway. I mean, our neighbours have the same road problems as we do and even worse. It is certainly important to prioritise how to ensure good road conditions in the vulnerable months. And the question remains. What can be done about Pakala Pahar?
